Upside Down Blinds #dreamdiary 205

We’re having the lounge redecorated. As part of the agreement, the decorators asked if we’d like to feature in a sketch on TV. The gist was that we’d have some blinds installed but they would be upside-down and placed over a wall instead of a window. They’d then have a film crew in and some actors as cowboy builders who we’d complain to, and we’d receive some cash to put towards the bill. It wasn’t mentioned in the contract so that the mistake would be put right afterwards. The blinds were installed in the director’s place alongside a rack where curtains could be attached to if the director changed his mind. The filming took place and the set crew took the rack with them, leaving a mess of erased floral wallpaper alongside a brightly coloured painted wall. We got paid and we contacted the decorators to begin the restoration work, but they wouldn’t commence it.

Attic Beers #dreamdiary 204

I’ve finally sealed something away in my life. I’ve managed to convince a load of old duffers to meet in the attic to talk about beer. They’ve actually climbed up the ladder and through the hatch in my house to sit down and drink it. Luckily there’s a few cans hanging about, and I’ve offered to go downstairs and fetch more. Instead, I’ve actually removed the ladder and put the hatch back in its place. I wonder how long it will take them to figure out that I’m not coming back. But one of them always finds a way to track me down. When I return to work the following day, there’s a new desk next to mine with crates of bottles of beer shrink-wrapped and stacked against it. There’s even a hogshead of beer waiting to be unwrapped. Then one of them arrives, eager to investigate what this new offering is all about and whether I’ve got anything to do with it.

My Biggest Fan

I bought this in the sales last year. I was pretty sure that I was getting a bargain. It was quite a reduction and had a fair bit of power. It even came with a remote control. The only problem was that there was a concern that it would use too much electricity. So it sat in the garage for a fair while until I had an opportunity to plug it in and test it. It ran quite fast, and it didn’t generate too much noise. There was even a timer. What I’ve yet to figure out is the humidifier function. I guess that if you fill it with water, if will blow a cool mist into the room. But water and electricity don’t mix, and the last thing I need is making the whole room wet or electronics being sprayed. One day I’ll have to sit down and read he instructions properly.

I'm deprived of my UK citizenship but I'm not a convicted terrorist

So what citizenship are you? There must be a reason for your deprivation. If you’re going against government advice travelling to places that you’re not supposed to be visiting, they can’t stop you from doing it but by stopping you from coming back makes it easier to stop you from doing it again. But if you’re sending government officials to the same place, then it’s certainly not a universal rule. But why do people want it in the first place if they’re going against our values? It’s probably for protection and to claim benefits. You’ve got to run the risk and be sure of what you’re doing; and that there’s a back-up plan if something goes wrong. Perhaps another country will take you in. the truth is that the government has no idea of what you’ve been up to when it comes to terrorist activity and it’s safer and easier to say no. 

The Truth about Changes

No-one likes change. You get used to things the way they are. Sometimes, they’re forced upon you. You might have to do things a different way which takes longer to learn and process. There’s supposed to be a benefit to someone for doing it this way. It’s probably to reduce costs in the long run. But in other instances, some people feel the need to improve things to make them faster and easier; if only to compete with whatever everyone else is doing. Then there’s the middlemen who make change for the sake of progress but they’re restricted to what they can do; so what they think is an improvement ends up making it a longer task for everyone else. It’s a double-edged sword which usually ends up as a compromise for the sake of cost. Improvements need to be tested on a smaller scale to make sure that they’re suitable for everyone. But there’s always someone trying to find the most efficient solution.

System of a downer

What kind of a company allows a system to prioritise its back-of-house processes over customer service? Surely you’d want your employees to care for the customers that are currently on  the premises rather than those who haven’t arrived yet? This system is not interested at all. It would rather interrupt an order halfway though to ensure that a back-of-house process takes priority. So you’ve got to constantly keep an eye on the control computer to ensure that you’re taking the right course of action, otherwise the customer could be witing a lot longer than anticipated. If you’re the only one working behind the scenes, you have to make sure that you support your front-of-house team when they need it, otherwise your customer could be waiting for ages necessarily. Sometimes the front-of-house team can help you out, but only if they know what’s going out since there’s no control computer out front.

Pizza on the Go #dreamdiary 203

I’m studying in the city at one of the most prestigious universities. Rent isn’t cheap round here so I’m confined to whatever I can seek out to live. Most of my things are in storage so that I can find somewhere with the least amount of room. In this case, I’m on a bunk bed in a flat above a corner shop. It also means I spend most of my life on the go and I have to be as mobile as possible, resorting to meals out at cafeterias and staying at libraries until closing time or the last train departs. I’ve managed to treat myself to a live recording of a comedy panel on campus. I’ve decided to treat myself to a pizza on the way back. But where can I eat it? I can’t take it on the train. I’ll need to either get it delivered which is hard to get someone to do so, or find one close to a place of shelter. It’s not an easy task.

Boot Camp

Laces are hard to come by. When they snap, you have to tramp around and you feel like you’re walking around in clown shoes and they feel like they’re going to fall off at any moment. They also seem to be hard to find in any shop other than a shoe shop. If the anklet snaps off, you can usually survive providing that you don’t have to thread your shoes regularly. It’s not every day that you see someone sitting down outside threading up their shoes. Nevertheless, they’ll need to be done eventually; though some people will just look at their shoes and end up going to buy new ones. I eventually ordered new laces off Amazon which took a day or two to arrive; during which time I’d have to wear different shoes or stomp around. When they did arrive, they were ridiculously long to the point that I was constantly tripping over them.

Escape Options #empress 24

Zhong could now see that the empress was only interested in her own desires. In any case, it would be a major risk to continue on what was left on his farm. Already the temple was in pieces and she was terrorising the neighbourhood. And she also owned the army so there was little chance of rebellion by normal folk unless the military could be persuaded to break their oath. He might be better off back in the city or leaving the country altogether. Perhaps the ocean was out of her reach. The only alternative that he could think of was to find the source of the Empress’s growth. Was there an elixir back in the city? Had someone created a pill? And was she likely to leave it behind? If the palace was deserted, it would be quite easy to get in. H=Failing that, he could charter a boat somewhere if he could find a crew.

A Pint of Pride at the Four Alls, Welford

This pub has a relaxing view of the river, and it’s made skilful use of this view with a huge patio on the one side facing it with roped off areas of tables and umbrellas. At the end, there’s even a little play area so that people can lose themselves to spend as much time as possible here. There’s a designer gazebo with lighting to cater for any kind of weather. There’s even a harbour to hitch up a boat, and there’s a bricked extension with a riverside indoor dining area. On the opposite side of the building, there’s a huge car park which is clearly marked, and there’s a field opposite which can be used for overflow parking or to host camping or events. Inside, the bar and the kitchen are back-to-back which serves the whole building, and it has a modern yet rustic décor with staff wearing traditional formal dress.

Voice Blast

I’m not a big fan when it comes to recognising celebrities. I can do actors by sight but not by voice. I’ll probably spend half the time googling who these people are. Half the fun is gone when you can’t discuss your answers with your fellow competitors; though there’s nothing to stop others in the room from joining in with you. And it’ll probably be American people as well. The welcoming bass tone makes it hard to understand what is being said. Maybe I should switch Alexa back to female mode. And if you don’t know the answer, saying that you don’t know isn’t acceptable. The game just stops and you don’t find out how you do. Fortunately, I’ve heard of all the celebrities involved so far. I wonder if I can change my nickname on my next go? I can. But I can only play once per day so it’ll take me a while to grab a win.

Keeping Right

We’re driving over to the pub for our post-walk meal. To get to the pub, the road crosses a bridge over the river. Crossing points for this river have been a bit scarce recently as a number of road accidents have caused them to be closed and re-built. This particular bridge also has a narrow lane. There’s a dedicated footpath painted on the road, and vehicles aren’t permitted to pass at the same time. There’s also some lights to allow people to turn off the main road since the bridge further up is under repair. People coming uphill have the right of way. So I set off to cross the bridge then a pickup truck comes hurtling towards me at speed. He thinks he can force me to give way. The only thing that I could do was jam my brakes on and blast my horn so that he doesn’t hit me.

"Make your life a masterpiece; imagine no limits on what you can be, have, or do."

-Brian Tracy.

You want to get the very vest out of life compared to everyone else. You want to make them envious of you and put your abilities on show for everyone to see. You want to be the example that inspires others. It’s a good starting point for a career. It’s sounds comforting, but it’s going to be too good to be true. There’s only so many resources, and it’s often the case that people aren’t going to fund you for these projects. You’ve just got to go and do it yourself. You need to get real and form a plan to break through those restrictions to help get you there. There might be a lot against you. We’re only human and we can only do so much. You’ll have to work out who can help you and what you need to do to gain their assistance. And you’ll also have to get rid of the barriers.

Eddie's Wood

I’m not entirely sure who Eddie was, but I’m sure there’s no family connection with the landowner, although it’d be nice to think that there was. I’m also not sure where we actually walked, though we didn’t plan a long one owing to the forecasted bad weather. We  probably started at the riverside car park. We specifically set off to find this wood, then worked out a circular route back. We felt that the woods were creeping in around us to hide the clearing to stop us from making our return journey. It’s a new method for the forest commission to raise funds and generate interest. Wearing jackets that blend in with the foliage doesn’t help, though it’s great if you want to try and spot some wildlife. We didn’t because it was too open, but this might have happened if we disobeyed the sign and made our own footpath.

Phil Unharmonic

Short and thin with a stereotypical crooked smile, this is one person who just hasn’t mastered the art of conversation. There's a lot of things that seem like a joke to him, and he doesn’t like learning anything new. Expect baggy trousers and tight shirts, or shorts and long socks on show in the summer.  He’s in his old age and often has difficulty hearing people when there’s background noise, so sometimes conversations get a bit repetitive and things don’t seem to sink in. He also doesn’t grasp the concept of what’s around him and how his actions affect others. He’s a big fan of caravans and by the sound of his adventures, he’ll go anywhere to park up to save money on accommodation. He’s very good at complaining. He has a long-suffering wife who doubles as his carer, who I think originally set out to help find him some new companions.

Gassing Around

If this pump could talk, it’d have a story to tell. How many accounts it must witness of people helping of hindering other, from dropped keys and forgotten bags to rage in the lanes and the ultimate catalogue of hits, bumps and scrapes. Some need help in figuring out the system. Some might have forgotten their payment and need to beg others to help them out. Others might be insistent that you collect their nectar points or ask to swipe their cand if you don’t have one. All this is monitored by the people behind the glass who think that they can control you with their words or shut off everyone’s supply until you comply. Occasionally they’ll eave their fortress to help keep thing running, whether it’s to refill the paper in the machines, remove hazards and empty the bins. They might even have to replace the nozzle when someone’s driven off without paying.

Mandy

This is a short but enjoyable comedy series, but it’s quite surreal and unrealistic at times owing to the situation that the protagonist faces. There’s some famous faces that pop up in some quite small roles alongside a regular supporting cast. The comedy is mostly situ, and Mandy’s deadpan carefree attitude to the world doesn’t help, nor do we learn of how Mandy came to be in her current situation. She gets to explore a variety of careers and work environments, and in some cases, she’s just unlucky, in others, it’s down to her character traits to getting the sack fast. But it’s a great insight into the attitudes of people who generally just want to spend their days larking about. There’s some interesting parodies that have already been done elsewhere with different characters, and don’t expect much in the way of stunts. We’re on a budget here. You’ll pick up some great excuses though.

Will the airport care if I arrive ten hours before my flight?

It depends on how much of a security risk you’re planning to be especially in a 24-hour airport. I imagine that your boarding pass would only grant you access to the airside lounge during a particular time window to avoid overcrowding, especially if delays have occurred. It’s quite common to see someone kipping on some seats while they wait for their check-in to open. There might be a café open that you can hang out at, but you may have to keep buying items to remain a customer. However, there may be periods with no flights at all, which would give the airport an opportunity to do some maintenance. In this case, they’d ask you to leave. It’s best to know before you go, or have a back-up plan in mind. Take a look at what airside services are offered, and if there are any alternatives nearby to stop you from spending a fortune. 

Canalside Cover-Up

I feel like I’m about to be sealed into the cliff forever, like some kind of frozen pod. The handrails look like they’ve been supercharged by some kind of electricity and it’s going to zap me straight in. I could cook, be transported somewhere, or be frozen instantly. It must be hydropowered by the canal below. The hole in the left of the wall could be the release mechanism. You’d probably need a key. I’m not sure if that’s my revenge pose or if I’m preparing to knock on someone’s door. Perhaps there’s a glass door in place that’s sealed me into the cliff already. Will I be put on show as a warning to trespassers, or will the vines above be lowered down to hide me? I wonder what my crime was. Perhaps my backpack contains a supply of clothes for a few days to allow me to blend into this new society.

Everyone on Twitter today is a business expert.

There’s a bit of sarcasm at play here. I’ve got no idea what they’re saying, but judging by your response, you need to be careful of whose advice you take. There might be too much advice, and some of it might be obvious. But there seems to be a lack of evidence of these things being done, otherwise it wouldn’t be offered in the first place. The critics seem to be the one complaining, otherwise they’d offer praise. Is it coming from one of your competitors, or is it someone who genuinely wants to see you succeed? Are they praising you as well? And if they’re all out there commenting, why aren’t they running their own business or commenting on LinkedIn? But you never know. It could be a day where only business experts are allowed to post. Didn’t you get the memo? Tomorrow it’ll be all about the garden.

Department of Beer and Social Affairs

I always wondered where it was. I thought it was a circle of people meeting in London wearing suits, and deciding who should get paid for what, but no. It’s a private underground chamber. You can almost hear the  chanting. I’m surprised that there’s not a queue to get in. It must be a dedicated place since there’s a bottle opener next the door and a handy tray to store the bottle tops in. Judging from the boat next to it, perhaps this is a meeting point for all the different departments. And the doors are numbered, so perhaps there’s different branches. Or perhaps this is a sign of things to come. All that’s left of the pubs are these boats. You couldn’t buy beer here, but you’d just bring the bottles in to socialise under supervision. It must have been a wild night last night as someone must have brought in the whole branch.

Ice Bar #dreamdiary 202

I’m in a holiday complex. It’s hosted in a huge curvy arched brick building with chandeliers hanging down from the ceiling over a central infinity pool that’s not just for show. Dotted around the edge are shops and bars just like at a mall. One if them is simply called ‘Ice’. It’s a bar made solely of ice. The window frames are giant carved out ice cubes that you can curl up and sit in, the walls are made of giant see-through sheets of ice, and the furniture is made up of large ice bricks clipped together, apart from the bar tops, and tables which are made up of large thick sheets of ice. The seats are curvy and convex. Even the flooring is a smooth surface. Amazingly, no-one’s got their coat on here. They’re all in their swimwear apart from the wait staff who wear tuxedos. Everything is kept surprisingly clean and pristine with no marks whatsoever.

Canalside Cardigans

This cardigan has been places. It’s left strands in rivers, houses, on walls, and has been brushed by people while sheltering its protector. I wonder what’s caused it to have so many folds. Perhaps there’s a layer template that’s removed at the end. Look closely and you can clearly see that it’s been out and about. Everyone and everything wants to get their hands on it, if only to prick it. The plant behind me looks like it’s getting ready to grab it. Perhaps it wants to claim the fabric back for the sake of nature, or that I’ve committed a crime against the environment. Or maybe the trees are assisting a nearby clothing store and they’re acquiring some more goods. I’m going to be shook up and down while being undressed until I slide off into the canal below. They’re just waiting for the people on the towpath to get out of sight.

Folding Camping Chair (Blue)

It’s got a light aluminium frame which makes it practical in weight, and one of the armrests has a handy cupholder. It’s crossed legs makes it secure when setting it up, but it’s not going to offer a great amount of support. It also comes in a light bag, but this material is cheap and easy to rip. It doesn’t like it closes all the way either. You have to open and close it carefully to avoid pulling on the stitching. Why the colour blue was chosen remains a mystery. The only other colour that it comes in is red. Perhaps there’s a plan to roll out other colours in future years to distinguish it from its predecessor and change the price. Or maybe it’s the cheapest colour in the manufacturing process. I would have thought white, but that would be easy to stain. Black would be the next in line, but that would absorb heat.

Don't Look Down

A pint and a roll might be enough to keep you going, but it isn’t a meal. So on the way back down, there was an opportunity to visit the other canalside pub. This is the Lock Inn at Wolverley. The pub itself is quite small, but it’s a nice spot to sit outside and enjoy a pint while watching canal users pass by. While we  didn’t enter the pub here, we made use of its excellent enterprising beer garden opposite which had a garden shed set up to sell ice creams next to the towpath. There’s a separate tearoom set up in the old stables, and there’s even a food truck so the owner is trying everything to make ends meet. A lock alongside the pub offers an ambitious exit to its  extensive car park, but we were parked in Kidderminster and had to continue underneath the road bridge.

Next time in Moscow: Five Takeaways after Trump and Putin's Alaska Summit

They could have visited local chip shops. I hear the fish is excellent in Alaska and perhaps they were both looking for an exotic entrée for their next soiree. But I think the article’s referring to five incidents of a  meeting rather than the economic progress of five outlets after their visit. But you’ve got to feed those security personnel somehow. Some may have even be forced to stay late, without payment to feed the whole entourage. Let’s hope that the visitors went for the healthy options and didn’t gorge themselves on the local dessert. They might have even met each other at the same takeaway at the counter and discussed peace options at the till. But in just a three-hour meeting, they managed to visit five outlets. Of course, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they ate five meals in this time.  I wonder who ended up with all the food.

A Good Cause for a Cob

After about four miles of following a towpath in a north-easterly direction, we passed underneath the village of Cookley. We knew we were there when we walked through the only tunnel of the walk. After passing a retirement community on the right, the towpath headed north again but we turned left and crossed a footbridge over the River Stour. This led us to a main road where we turned left to reach the pub. COVID restrictions were still in place; but the pub was rammed. A huge marquee was placed over the pub’s car park. People were queuing to get in and take a table. Some were just queuing for cobs to take away. We wanted to sit and drink and were directed to a table after we’d ordered a ham and cheese cob, and the amount of salad that came out with it was insane. Some people were just eating the rolls and leaving the salad which was a massive waste of food.

The Truth About Relationships

Relationships are tricky. There’s good things and bad things. Some are strictly for business; like your internet provider or for commerce. But you want to keep these people happy so that you can get the best deal for your buck. Others require a bit more trust like the people in your family who will help to look after you no matter what happens. These are the people who will help you with your mistakes and support you so that you can solve your problems. You’ve got to find out how to get the best out of these people and learn when to put the effort in to keep them happy, such as manipulating them with a cup of tea or doing chores for them in exchange for a service. You’ve got to hope that they’re going to do what they say they’re going to do, and you’ve got to do the same. Once this is established, there may be things that you can get away with and steer them into doing your bidding, but you’ll have to ensure that this is a delicate balance.

Hanging Tough

These look like innocent, cliffs, but what exactly is behind the ivy? It’s probably a stone face, but even that could be covering something up since we’re not too far from an urban area. It looks like it’s just a wood above, but how do you make sure? Any crack in the cliff could lead to a retractable door. And the cliffs just keep rising. Someone could have a very big basement attached to a long tunnel. It’s fenced off at the top so someone doesn’t want people going there, though of course they’d argue that it’s to  stop people from falling into the canal. But who would be up there in the first place? Has anyone had the urge to swim across the canal and attempted to climb the rockface? I’m not sure that those branches could support a person and you might get pricked a bit when moving some of the greenery.

Planning a Pampering #vampress 23

Should she go with the cream of the crop and get the best of what she could find, or at least what her minions could find for her? Or should she start with someone pure and train them? At least there wouldn’t be any bad habits. But with the town under her spell, she figured it would be quicker to get the married men involved. Perhaps she could get their wives involved too, though it could create a bit of jealousy. But if treated right, the wives could be the slaves. Perhaps they could be rewarded by making love on her person. It would be like a massage to her. Then when one partner tired out, she could take on the other. She wondered if one couple could nestle in her apex while another could massage her buttocks. Then she’d need a bed big enough for all this activity. That would require a different team altogether.

Pansying Around

It’s the pansy version of cruising around a city in a limousine. They’re flowers so they won’t get far but it looks like they’re enjoying themselves. They’re in a party mood and they’re happy waving to passers-by. They might not have speed, but they’ll certainly catch the wind in their hair, especially when a narrowboat passes by or a gust of wind or any moving object for that matter. I wonder if the boat is going to be painted to match the flowers? You kind of wish that its windows would wind down to reveal another row of pansies, but you know that you’re just going to see a load of roots instead. They’ve even got a stripper pole that lights up. It would be great if it flashes, though that would probably require a bit of work with electronics and there’d be all sort of complications when it come to watering the flowers. Still, a cruise is a cruise.

Baking Innuendos

This is going to cause a bit of a stir. There might be some interesting sound effects of things getting longer. Or I might come home from work tomorrow night to find a strange and kinky package on my doorstep. I wonder if many of them were used by chefs that have since been banned from taking part in any further shows. I might have to verify my age. Or maybe the whole phrase has been deleted from the databank. But I’m just given a random statement. There’s not even a call to action. But it’s something to work with, though you might get into trouble using them in the workplace. And I haven’t had one repeated yet. But it’s hard to understand her sometimes when she uses that same monotone, and if she’s going to say something that you’re not expecting, it can be hard to understand. But they’re short and sweet.

"Happiness is not by chance, but by choice".

-Jim Rohn.

But try as you might, you can’t control everything. There’s always going to be something that will get in your way. You can choose what will make you happy, but that might not make others happy. Sometimes you have to rely on luck to get the outcome that you want. You can plan everything, but sometimes something will go wrong and you’ll have to react accordingly. Otherwise, every night everyone will be spending their time planning what they’re going to do the following day. It’ll be difficult to find someone who wants to share your goals. You’ll have to persuade people that your view is better. Sometimes the choices that you make don’t give you the outcome that you want it to, and others might not agree with your decisions. You have to be very dominant. It can be a selfish attitude, but sometimes there’s nothing that you can do about it.

Little Steps

It’s a bit strange how the firs have wrapping ribbons on them. They look like they’ve been dressed up like giant Easter eggs. Maybe it’s to preserve their shape. Oddly, they’ve got the road ‘bathroom’ on them, but I don’t think that’s the best place for them. Either that or it’s the wrapper off something else. Maybe they’re using the ribbon as a guide to wrap some lights around later. It’s a shame because the rest of the garden is thought out well; especially the narrowboat planter that looks like it’s been custom made. I’d like to see it painted on a later visit, and for the plants in bloom to be watered as well. But it does look like there’s an artist present. I wonder if there’s any space to sit behind the shrubs on the other side. I hope that nothing goes walkies or ends up in the canal too often.

Camping in the City

This didn’t have the glamour and excitement of a normal hotel. It was quite a trek to get there, and the route didn’t take us through the most glamorous of parts on foot. There was a comfortable room which was functional, but the lobby just consisted of vending machines that could be accessed by anyone and there wasn’t really a private lounge. It did feel a bit gated, but I suppose you’d need to in a city to protect cars. We had a great view of the ringroad, but for the price, we were paying for a basic function rather than any convenience, but it was easy to get a taxi when we had appointments. And when we came back at night, the walk was downhill and we only had to cross the road to get hot food. I think we had the breakfast once. It wasn’t particularly memorable, but it did the job. It’s a Travelodge now.

Canalside Church

This was a great little trip that we did for a breath of fresh air. I wanted to catch the bus over and kick back a bit  more but I was overruled. The only car park that I knew of was a bit expensive and it was a fair walk to the starting point but we just went with it. After an uninspiring walk through the town centre, we joined the towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal. Heading north, there were a fair few sights to see on this journey. Firstly, the raised floodproof houses all had little decorated canalside gardens complete with ornaments. We also bumped into one of my beerclub friends who was out for a bike ride. After a chat, we continued along the towpath. As we left, the cliffs of Staffordshire came into view, and I loved how the ivy hung off the sides into the canal. There were even some caves to explore.

Dirty Deeds Around Town #dreamdiary 201

I’m lying at home in bed. I’ve got a nice pillow stuffed down the back of my boxer shorts to give my bum a bit of curvy bounce. I’m thinking of putting a duvet in at the other side to give my front a nice hourglass figure. Then I find myself lying on the floor at work in the stockroom. I’m peering through the glass in the door to the sales floor dreading the moment that any lights come on indicating that someone is coming to find me but I can’t seem to move myself or come up with a credible reason as to why I didn’t go home the night before. Oddly, I would have tripped the automatic alarm but it doesn’t seem like I’ve been doing much moving about anyway. Then I wake up and discover that nothing at all has been stuffed down my shorts. It’s all natural.

Mind the Doors

These doors seemed to be always under a constant strain. They were fire doors that we could keep open with a metal chain that hooked onto the door. The other end of the chain was hooked up to an electronic magnetic lock which would cut out if the fire alarm was activated so that the door closed. . The problem was that the chain was made out of hooks that were constantly being stretched which meant that it would often unhook itself. Sometimes the door would become knocked which meant there wasn’t enough chain. Sometimes the magnetic plate that it hooks onto needs screwing back on. And sometimes the chain would become so strained that it would just slip off the hook. When we needed a repair, we had to keep the door closed for fire safety purposes. And when they did repair it, they would always use the same cheap materials so that it would inevitably happen again. It’s as if they needed to be kept in employment.

Where the Crawdads Sing

This is a retrospective, slow-moving but fitting film about innocence, abandonment and reputation. There’s a good soundtrack but there’s not enough heartfelt to make it an emotional journey. There’s some beautiful views but it would be interesting to have seen some wildlife in action to reflect on Kaya’s actions. Some of the lovemaking is quite intense, and the protagonist doesn’t always fight back. It’s also a bit confusing in places as the young antagonists look very similar. It’s also very unmasculine for the lead protagonist to wear a shell necklace. You’d have thought that one of his other lovers would have picked up on it immediately. There’s a great relationship with other characters who build up her rapport and give her support, but it’s not clear as to why the attorney comes forward and what his interests are. There’s an interesting conclusion though. You think it’s so obvious, but the truth is revealed many years later, and you feel that you’re missing out on an exciting part of the story.

Carew Castle

Our last castle visit of the trip was just outside the town, but it was in the direction of home. It’s in a small village just off the main road. The car park had recently been recobbled to prevent erosion, and there was easy pedestrian access to the main entrance. There’s a lot of history here as well as lots of nooks and crannies to explore. The large windowpanes clearly show that in the past, the castle had extravagance. I love how they built the frames into the rounded towers. Be prepared or some great views and some exbibits that you can interact with, including a wooden horse and a wooden giant sculpture near the café. There’s also a small walk to the mill house and its pond. It’s a great place for birdwatching. The pub alongside it looked interesting, but unfortunately I had a long drive back. Maybe next time.

If a police vehicle is tailgating you, should you speed up, maintain speed, slow down, or pull over and stop?

The safest method is to pull over and stop. You need to do this in a safe area where it’s legally acceptable to pull over and park, and not on a hard shoulder. If the officer questions you, you can always inform them that their driving is distracting you, and that you’re giving them the opportunity to pass while maintaining a safe environment. Until then, you should maintain your speed so as not to attract them to your presence. Speeding up might draw suspicion to escape from their eyesight. If you slow down, you become a hazard to them. Of course, you’ll need to prioritise all hazards as a priority over their actions unless they give you specific instructions. You’ll also need to consider if you’re trying to avoid suspicion or whether you’ve got anything to hide, and what your best opportunity is. The important thing is not to give them an excuse.

A Ponder In Pembroke

I love this sleepy town. The highlight is of course the castle but I wasn’t keen to visit there as I’d already done it on a previous trip. Instead we took a walk around the grounds on the Mill Pond walk. It was pleasant, but it wasn’t particularly inspiring in places. On our wander, we also went past the B&B that we tried to book but no-one picked up the phone. By the time that they’d returned my call to confirm their availability, we’d already booked somewhere else. It looked nice from the outside, but parking would have been a bit of a struggle. We also took the opportunity to pop into a few souvenir shops and do a bit of shopping. It was a shame that most of the bars hadn’t reopened for business yet, though we made a couple of notes of where we could go if we were to return.

What a day, walked about 30k and swam in two lakes.

Many people might walk this distance without even knowing it. You might be doing a long walk, but you’ve also got to travel to get there. If you’re in a hotel, you’ve got to get from your room to breakfast and back again before you leave it. If you’re not using a lift and you’re on a high floor, that’s a lot of steps. Many people would take the stairs down and head back up in the lift, though it depends on how long you have to wait for it. If you’re driving to the start of your walk, you’ll also be making steps as you press the pedals. And the route you actually take is much longer than the route says it is as you make wrong turns and correct yourself, and wander off to explore the area around the route too. Must have been a long day though.

Cafe No. 9

Just down the road from our Travelodge was a local café. Its surroundings may not be much, but they’ve made the best out of what they’ve got. We got there just after opening, and I think we got the last but one table. It was very clean and warming like you’d just walked into someone’s kitchen. The prices were reasonable and the service was friendly. It was also a great place for locals to pop in to start their day as they collected their breakfast sandwiches and lunch orders. The team was certainly organised as they were prepping orders to be delivered as well. We were that impressed that we decided to order lunch to take away as well in the form of baguettes which were freshly made. We ate these on the beach later. As we left, there was a queue of people waiting to get a table, so we knew that we were onto a good thing.

Hanging Out

I got a message that our washing line airer had unexpectedly collapsed and that we need a new one right away. I wasn’t given an opportunity to see if it could be fixed, and it felt like this was a family emergency. I felt that it had to be set up right away otherwise our laundry programme couldn’t continue, so this had to be done as soon as I got home from work while it was still light. It didn’t require much work since we already had a ground spike fitted. All I had to do was to get rid of the packaging and made sure that it fit and that it opened and closed. The only problem that we had is that sometimes you have to give it a good tug to come out. We also don’t have a cover for it. It makes me wonder how long it’ll last as the old one was made by a better manufacturer.

Hello Sailor

The view that this pub offers is fantastic. It has something to offer everyone, apart from a great choice in beer. It’s where the locals go and you have to be here as the sun sets. The pub itself is a small building with a cosy lounge and a pleasant conservatory offering views of the river. But to really appreciate it, you have to sit outside to enjoy stunning views of the bay. You can watch the locals sail in and head straight to the bar for a pint. It’s not a quiet pub. You’ll be able to hear the traffic passing over the bridge for a start. There’s also an aviary nearby and lots of room for kids to run about. The seats are just benches so you might need cushions. But the homemade food is delicious. While I was queuing to order, I noticed a specials board that wasn’t on the menu, and I had to place a quick phone call to tell everyone what they were. They’d have been disappointed if they’d missed out!

Mother of IDF soldier taken hostage by Hamas fears he'll be one of last freed

Well, he’s a soldier so tactically speaking they’re doing the right thing. If you release a soldier, it won’t be long until he shares some intel and he’s able to be a soldier again. They could injure him so that he couldn’t fight then set him free, but he wouldn’t be the same. It’ll either be through a surrender or an invasion of a foreign force. It’s all part of modern day war tactics. But I had no idea who the IDF were until I googled them. They could have been the International Defence Federation. But it’s a nerve-testing time for the family as every day is another wait for news. It’s not something that’s easy to obtain. Even a ceasefire will cause a huge amount of administration. It’ll be much quicker for an invading force to create an escape, ideally with an extraction. But you need a team with guts to attempt it.

The Truth about Fear

It’s real. It can put you off doing things. But you have to face up to them. If you do nothing, people know that you’re incapable of resolving things. They may do them for you, but they might not trust you with the task of doing them again. Sometimes you can use fear as an adrenaline rush to get things done, but you might end up doing them in a bit of a rush and miss key steps out. But it occupies your time. You can spend all day with your thoughts on the subject or lose focus on what you’re meant to be doing. It might even cause you to run away rather than face up to it. It could be better than you thought it would be; but you won’t know the outcome until you get it done. Until then, you’ll be inventing scenarios in your head and this is where things get out of control. You need to plan how to react to each scenario and look into what you can to in the future to prevent it from happening again. And talking about your problems to others may suggest solutions that you hadn’t thought of.

Raising a Glass

This is quite a modern pub that you’d expect to see anywhere. It’s on the edge of town where there’s lots of space to meet groups in one large environment. There’ll be a big menu but you can almost guess what’s on it, and it won’t be particularly memorable. And it’ll be the same for the drinks. The portions are a decent size, but they won’t be fresh and you’ll want a pudding afterwards, probably a sundae. There’ll be a large bar with very few people serving who are just paid the minimum wage and aren’t expected to be tipped because of the clientele. Get there after the dinner rush and there’ll be piles of plates everywhere. There’ll be a nice patio where you can sit outside and wait for your mates to come in or watch the world go by in the sunshine. Its translation is the Blue Stones which sounds romantic, but my first guess would be the Large Glass.

The Point #devils daughter 24

At the back of the church was a cast iron statue, painted in gold, in the shape of Jesus. It was one of those statues that looked expensive, but was quite cheap to produce in mass production. It was hard and it looked like it would do the job. She began crawling across the red carpet towards it. It was a bit of relief not resting them on the marble, but the sensation f rubbing them on a new material began to stimulate her plate-sized nipples. She couldn’t quite lift her boobs over the pews. As she brushed them, they were big enough to push them back a few inches, but they would have to go over them at some point since they were taller in mass. Luke wouldn’t feel a thing. In fact he might be squashed a little, but she didn’t want him to see what she was up to.

Docking Around

Being new in town, we arrived for a bit of exploring. The Travelodge that we were in was a basic two-storey building that was  very quiet apart from when it came into check-time when the car park got filled with builders and people travelling for work. It was too small to host a bar or supply breakfast, so we had to seek that out elsewhere. Once we’d settled in, we decided to find somewhere for dinner. We went for a walk around the docks but couldn’t get too much of a view owing to all the fencing and security in place. We passed a few pubs that didn’t serve food and some restaurants that were a bit too posh for what we were looking for. We’d chosen the worker’s side rather than the attractive tourist side. I didn’t want to do any more driving but we did find an estate pub that was conveniently located for everyone.

Escape From Town #dreamdiary 200

I’ve come to a university town to take on an escape room. I’ve had to come on my own but my main reason for going is that one of my friends runs it. I’ve decided to go in fancy dress but my friend has decided to let me change in her flat rather than me wear a ridiculous costume on the train. I fail the challenge and get locked in, then I go to my friend’s flat to get changed again. I suddenly realise that there’s no way that I can make the last train home, though I might make the last connecting train to the city and I might be able to haggle for a taxi or a lift. I’m running across rooftop gardens to try and make the train, and I’m considering running up steps and jumping over fences to a montage of Journey’s Don’t Stop Believing. If I can make it back to her flat before she moves onto her night job, there’s a chance that I can spend the night in it rather than a roofless night in the city.

Cooling off in Creselly

We were still a bit early for our appointed check-in time, and we’d been  recommended to visit a local pub  in the middle of nowhere, not by our beer crew but by our travelling friends. Upon investigation, it was on the guidebook circuit, but it wasn’t an easy place to get to so it was more practical to call in on the way there. The pub sits next to the quay which forms the car park, and its surrounding benches means that you can sit and watch the tide come in as you sip your pint. It’s also an active spot for canoeists and traffic watching as the locals come down to use the bridge. The building itself is stone bare and worn, but inside is a beautiful tiled corridor decorated with taxidermy and simple wooden chairs and tables leading to a traditional wooden Victorian bar with a fireplace that hasn’t changed...ever. Good beer alongside the river with friendly locals are the main attractions here.  

Halloween: Feel the Pressure

This game was written nearly four years ago. I’ll be impressed if it’s still in operation. I guess a lot of these third-party features realise that they’re no longer going to make any money off it any more and pull the plug on the platform. But it works. It starts with spooky sounds but Alexa’s introduction is a bit annoying as she puts long sentences into annoying pauses which makes them difficult to understand at times. The phonetic alphabet isn’t one used internationally, it contains inappropriate words and it sounds like one that the creators made up. They’re not hard questions but get one wrong and you have to start again. I’m often asked for my final answer, but it’s strange that it doesn’t always ask it. When I do give it, it’s not going to be my final answer because if I get it right, I’m asked another question straight after.

Bosherton Beer

The car park was a mass of slate crazy paving that had been left to overgrow, and what was once used as natural lines was now no more. We walked past the slate buildings used to host a toilet block, and followed the road up the hill to the main road. At the church, we turned left, and walked past a local social club where people were sitting outside in deckchairs enjoying the sunshine. The pub was nicely painted, and it would have been nice to stay inside to cool off, but the weather was too tempting and we sat on a picnic bench in the car park. We had a simple meal of sandwiches and chips since we’d brought a locally made baguette with us in case they weren’t serving food. We chatted to the group of bikers next to us, and they were impressed that we’d managed to walk this far.

 

"To succeed, you need to find something to hold onto, something to motivate you, something to inspire you."

 -Tony Dorsett.

You need a reason to win. A lot of the time, it’s down to the fact of what will happen if you don’t do something. But if the situation is unlikely to change if you don’t do anything, it makes it harder to make the change. You need a desire to improve things. You have to hold onto the drive to make the change otherwise it won’t happen. There might not be an instant reward available for completing the task but you’ve got to focus on the benefits when it’s done. If there’s no point in doing the task, then why do it? There’s other ways to occupy your time. You might need to give yourself a personal reward when the task is complete. It might be someone that inspires you, or at least is someone who keeps telling you to get the task done. Or it might be the option to go somewhere afterwards.

Stackpole Stroll

Today we’ve ventured into a village called Stackpole on the Pembrokeshire coast. We got the idea from an article in a women’s magazine, and the plan is to walk along the clifftops on the coastal path to reach the lily ponds then take lunch at a nearby pub. We can then get the bus back to the car, or walk back the way we came and stop off for a dip in the sea. It’s a sunny day and the coast is stunning. Other than a local coasteering group, there’s very few people around. There’s plenty of rest spots with views, woods with shade, and hills with vantage points. There’s also lots of boardwalks and tracks. The swans were busy looking for food in the lily ponds. It’s when we’re halfway through the walk I realise that I’ve been here before in someone else’s car. We managed an eleven-mile round trip.

Office of the Beardy Weirdies

As a group, these people seem to be stuck in their ways. There are people who are pushing for change, but they’re not necessarily in the right places. The office people are nice to deal with, and they’re young and enthusiastic, but they’re not the people in charge. They focus on their career and how they can use the organisation to gain experience and build a portfolio. They’re only active in the workday, and if they’re off duty for a holiday or they’re sick then you’re not going to get your answer at all. We are essentially their boss because if we don’t like their decision or process then we can attempt to overturn it. We also have the option to vote with our feet and leave the organisation. It’s the volunteers who are, and because these people don’t work full time due to other interests, they’re often hard to get a timely response out of.

A Wander around Raglan #raglan

On our way down to Pembrokeshire, we called off the dual carriageway to stretch our legs at Raglan Castle. It’s one of those ruins that’s still great to go and explore. The car park is centred around a green with hedgerows over the turret walls. The moat is very impressive, and how the castle contains its moat with bridges, but it’s a shame that you can’t access the towers, though not much of them remain. But they have tried to decorate what has remained with stone props. I love the turret tops; there’s no practical reason for them to be built apart from being architecturally pleasing, though I suppose they could be supports for the ramparts. There’s also lots to explore in the chapel. Where the floors have been removed, you can see the original fireplaces that are still set in the walls. There’s also some interest methods of cooking in the kitchen and some great dispense methods in the underground pantry.

The Office (AU)

There’s new plotlines but the characters are the same. You can tell who the prankster is and who is the weirdo; though they can be a little less conservative as they’re not in America. It’s easy to identify the characters from the US version. But there’s less jokes and more revenge as the people working here are a bit older, burnt out and serious. There’s lies and deception as people attempt to avoid change that’s forced upon them. It’s short and somewhat unrealistic with too many ditzy characters who you wonder how they got appointed in the first place; and it’s a shame that they didn’t have the chance to address COVID, though they did cover a period of remote working. There’s no international stars and the memes haven’t been appearing on social media either, but they might be big in Australia. It’s a shame that people didn’t give it a chance for another series to be developed, but you can tell that the original formula is still there.

A Bridge Too Far #bidford 14

This is set in an idyllic spot by the river. The bridge is built at a stretch, and it’s only to accommodate the road. There’s a fair bit of land next to the pub which creates an ideal beer garden as well as a small car park. The pub inside is comfortable and has tables in the entrance and bar side seating. There’s wooden beams with comfortable alcoves and seating. There’s also the option to dine al fresco which keeps a lot of the servers on their toes, but they’re still friendly and are happy to stop for a quick chat. The food is interesting and the small menu varies according to the season to keep it fresh. The beer is what you’d expect for the area, but it’s in good condition. They’re probably not shifting enough pints to accommodate a guest ale. Hopefully there’s a summer event that they can organise to create some interest.

Is the British Army tougher than the American Army?

We’re well ‘ard. We’re trained to survive in all sorts of situations where we’ve run out of ammo and the radio’s broken. We carry on. An American will panic as son as the last resource is in sight of running out. Our training covers everything from surviving in the wilderness to gathering your bearings and using what’s around you. We may not have rock-hard abs or be jacked up, but we’ve certainly got a good bit of kit that isn’t disposable which keeps us active. The toughest squad is renowned throughout the world for its secret operations. Instead of running away at the first sign of trouble, we’ll work as a team to put in the graft required to get the job done. And if we bleed, we’ll keep on crawling to do our duty and die to protect their colleagues. We’ve had presence in military conflicts all over the world miles away from our borders. And there’s so few of us compared to other armies.

Wooden Hoedown #bidford 13

These wooden folk create quite a stir in the pub’s beer garden. It almost makes you want to sit next to them and join in a bit of a singsong or break out the spoons. It would be great to see them animated or have some real musicians join them. The dog could bark out a regular beat for them to keep in time and howl at the end. Well, Harry Potter needed a hobby after he left school and defeated Voldemort. You can imagine the farmer practicing to scare the birds off his land while the missus washes his clothes. The waistcoat man is missing his instrument so he must be improvising by playing the air guitar. It certainly explains why the box he’s been perched on is a cloud. Meanwhile, Saffron Sally must realise that half her cello is missing. Maybe she’s refusing to believe it by keeping her eyes closed. At least the weather hasn’t worn them down.

Is this the right way?

So it takes thirty minutes to recharge an electric dray. This is great if you’ve got somewhere back at base to do it. The driver could have his lunch and be back on the road straight after providing the brewery’s excess energy is being put to good use. It’s not so efficient at a service station, though it does give the brewery great advertising providing that the dray’s empty. It might take only thirty seconds to fill it with diesel, but then someone’s got to have cash or the company credit card or be able to claim it back. Both these methods are more efficient than a horse which would struggle to last three hours and wouldn’t be able to travel as far. I still think that we’ve gone the wrong way about this electric battery business. Surely you’d be able to take the old one out and insert a charged one in a matter of minutes?

Bounce Park #dreamdiary 199

We’re at a holiday park. There’s some great ride here in the theme park. There’s some great water slides and a cable car ride. The last ride that we go on is a rope swing, but we have to climb up a wall to get to it. It’s decorated as a bookcase and at the top there’s a large clock that swings open to reveal a hole to crawl through. My elder niece makes it through the hole but I’m carrying my youngest niece up there. She makes it to the gap but lacks the strength and courage to pull herself up. At times she makes it but I’m sacrificing my rest points to get her through there and at times it feels like I’m pulling her back down just to stay on the wall. Eventually we give up the climb and both descend gracefully back to the floor below while my eldest niece watches.

Shadows in the Day #bidford 12

It looks picturesque but it looks like something’s lurking underneath. The shallow bit is in front of us, but we don’t know how deep the back goes. Perhaps something with a lot of fur judging by the surrounding grass. Just to the left of the right-hand bank, something could even be giving us the finger while the shadow of hand rests on the other side. Perhaps it’s angry that we’ve ventured onto its land. It could be a giant woman relaxing with a water-printed dress, and the bar at the top is holding it into place while a pair of unseen arms hang off the telegraph pole. The large green bushes on the edges could be hair with an earring on the righthand side. Maybe something needs a trim. And you don’t want to think about the white foam that’s appeared in the centre on the top of the water. You’ll have to dive down there to find out.

An Unexpected Blockage #titannabell 23

One of the maids had to apologise to the King & Queen. She was a small young thing who hadn’t long been in service but was keen to make a reputation of herself in front of the royal family. While everyone else was focused on the residents, she would take the initiative and apologise to the King and Queen and get the princess up so that the breakfast room could be prepared. She skipped along the passageway, and as she turned into the corridor leading past the breakfast room, she came to a halt. Rubble was everywhere. Perhaps the castle had been attacked as the door was lying on the floor. In its place was a silk-like material with a nozzle for a handle with cracks around the walls. She placed a hand on it and a huge sigh echoed behind it. As she turned it, a milk-white substance came out.  

Under River Rock #bidford 11

In the unlikely event that I was to fall in, where would I end up? I’m quite a good swimmer so I wouldn’t get far unless the current took me under. There’s every chance that someone may throw me a ring. I always get confused where these rivers go. We tend to see them as a natural background rather than a throughfare to transport ourselves. Often we’ll do a circular trip for the novelty of it. Or I could end up in an underwater world with mermaids who try to save me in between realising that I don’t have gills. There may even be underground caves that haven’t been explored because no-one knows of their existence. It could be the world of the missing who wonder what these strange fossils are that wash up on their shore. It could be a home for the abandoned and reclusive that don’t want to be involved with society any more.

Patitiri Grocery

It’s a friendly little supermarket on the last stretch of the town strip. It’s well-connected for its footfall since it’s opposite a track that’s frequented by tourists as they pass to and from their accommodation. It looks stocked up with beach goods, a nice selection of chilled drinks, wines, souvenirs and supplies. The coffee machine looked amazing, but unfortunately there was a power cut which prevented the lady from operating it. It would be difficult to run an inventory, but you’ve got to trade somehow. This also meant that the ham and cheese croissants I purchased; although delicious; couldn’t be kept warm.  There’s also an adorable little dog and you can purchase treats for him to support the local dog’s shelter. Meanwhile, a parrot keeps a watchful eye on shoplifters. ‘Wotcha got?’! There’s also a gazebo with tables and a small play area that you can use and consume your goods while watching the world go by. The owner might join you for a chat.

Under the Ground #bidford 10

It all began with the oak tree. Its roots are at the centre of the society and its many branches stretch up into the ground above. Many branches form the basis of what the occupants travel through, and it even holds up the river containing the great fall. Light is sparse. It’s slowly filtered through holes in the sky and is reflected off diamonds and crystals carefully placed to give the best positions. Many have grown accustomed to the dark and have developed their other senses so that they can hear, smell and feel the movements of others. But they don’t tamper with anything related to the Great Oak. Engineers occasionally divert the Great River to help them build new tunnels or wash away unwanted debris. There’s plenty of space, but occasionally they find metal pipes when they try to expand. This just causes further cave-ins, but they seem to come from above.

Role Models

So it’s more male role models that we need. Dads aren’t doing their jobs properly as they’re not making enough media appearances. There’s a lot of interest in the sporting world. Personally, I disapprove of this as a lot of them tend to spit on the field, but it’s also down to what they do off the pitch as well. One person who does stand out is Marcus Rashford whose work on child poverty is to be applauded, organising school meals and campaigning to end child poverty. Elsewhere, we hear reports of politicians getting arrested and music and movie stars seem to keep their activities quiet when they’re not performing or promoting. We don’t want people looking good in fancy clothes promoting products, but we do want o to be inspired by people’s actions. Little acts of kindness are all well and good but we want people who can lead by example, people that people think ‘I’d like to be that person’, or ‘if he was in that situation, what would he do?’.

Under the Surface #bidford 9

I might seem like a happy chappy but I’ve still got my socks pulled up and my scabby knees on show. I think I’m happy because I’ve managed to get myself to a place that others would struggle to position themselves whereas I’m quite comfortable returning from where I started. There’s a big branch behind me that looks like a lever. Its position isn’t clear. It could be on the bank or it could be in the water like a giraffe that’s just washed up. If I pull it, will the water stop or is it more likely to snap off and fall into the water taking me with it? It looks sturdy enough to survive a snapping. At least I’ve got something sturdy to hold onto. I’ll end up like one of those figureheads that hangs off the side of a ship. I wonder if the leaves are hiding anything?

The Truth About Honour

It’s about doing what you said you’ll do. It’s about keeping promises. The more you do this, the more reputable you’ll become. People will be willing to trust you because they know you’ve done things to their satisfaction before and they think that you’ll do the right thing. It’s the basis of life in some societies and not living up to expectations can be quite shameful. You could find it difficult to complete the simplest of tasks with other people’s cooperation. There are things that you could do without; but other people are expecting you to do these things; whether it’s to father a child or make time to do the smallest of chores to help someone out like doing the washing up before leaving for the evening. In some cultures, you have to swear an oath in front of family and friends. You could be getting married and declare what you will and won’t do, or declare your loyalty to an organisation. Dishonest people are undesirable and shouldn’t be trusted to do other things as they’ve let you down before and you’re unwilling to trust them in case they do the same again.

Surf's Up #bidford 8

 I wonder what washes up along this shoreline. It’s beautiful to watch, and it stops any debris from going any further, though I suspect someone has to go and fish it all out. It’s probably common to see rubbish. Plastic bottles, grass, the odd floating shoe. Then there’s broken driftwood and discarded packets and some of the remains of wrappers shredded by animals trying to get a taste of the food that was within. There might be a dead discarded fish. Unfortunately, it’s got to be someone’s job to keep the river looking pristine. If there’s anything decent or worthy then they get first dibs. But it’s going to be very unlikely that a message in a bottle washes up complete with treasure map. You’re more likely to find rusted drink cans and bird feathers. For boats, there’s a lock. I suppose this means that kayaks have to get out. It’s going to be very risky otherwise.

Make me Laugh

Is it going to be a one-liner? Is it going to tell  me a story? Or will it be tuned to my needs? It’s known me for a while now. It gives me a simple one-liner that I’ve heard before. I didn’t even hear the question properly to know that scarecrows ae so smart because they’re outstanding in their field. It didn’t even bring me a chuckle. It’s a shame that these things don’t come with sound effects. I’d expect at least a drum. I wonder if it’s listening to hear me laugh so it knows whether it’s been successful. It doesn’t ask for any feedback directly. Maybe she’s ignoring me completely because I didn’t laugh the first time round. The third result is a geography joke which does put a smile on my face but again it’s not original. It’s a shame that there’s no adult mode or that it’s not afraid to reference other materials.

Underground Arch #bidford 7

It’s beaver country. There’s a perfect nib, almost as if they’re trying to make a pencil out of the trunk. It’s that close that the photographer could be mistaken for doing it. Maybe he did do it to scoop something out. Or there could be the slight reflection of eyes in the tunnel. It’s a handy retreat should it fancy a turn in the fields (and who wouldn’t with the sun out like that) and has a place to retreat to should something chase it. Should that be too risky, there’s some greenery nearby. Is it the light on the leaves as it tries to enter the abyss? It’s like the green is trying to turn blue. And there’s a slight red wildflower that looks like it’s been hung up like a Christmas decoration. It’s impressive that it’s been constructed out of slate and stone. It’s a private luxury hideaway for whoever establishes their territory first.

"If you decide that you're going to do only the things that are going to work, you're going to leave a lot of opportunities on the table".

 -Jeff Bezos.

Sometimes you have to take risks. There’s things that are easy to do and things that you have to force yourself to do. Sometimes you just have to force yourself to try. You can be surprised by the results if you think positively. Often, many people may be prepared to adapt to help you out. There’s always the fear of being rejected; people generally don’t want to be cruel and deny you chances. Sometimes it’s a judgement of character and it’s easier not to be involved. You might feel a bit guilty for lying but a lot of the time you won’t know the full story. You’ve also got to consider what you can get out of the partnership and whether it’s worth your time or if you can get some recognition by doing a favour for someone. But if you have a big network and you’re able to help others grow then they’ll really appreciate it.

Tall Tales #biford 6

Rather than thick on the bottom and thin on the top, they’re thin all round. I wonder if they’re able to take any weight or if they’ll bend at the first sign of wind as they’re in an open area. I’d like to think that I can put a few timbers around them to form a cube strong enough to support a room or two with the trunks passing through the top, but the width of the trunks don’t give me much confidence. At least there’s a bit of camouflage around the base, but the building will be easy to spot, especially with the sunlight cast over, unless a few more trees can be felled and placed horizontally, or that higher branches will develop. Perhaps the copse will grow, hopefully without too much damage once the nails are bolted in. It would be a great viewing spot for wildlife, though the owners may not be too keen on the idea.

Calling all Counsellors

This was an agency that put me on an interesting journey. It didn’t change my life, but it did provide some great tales. It all started with an application to travel overseas to work as a camp counsellor. I didn’t have to travel far to get an interview. We met at a hotel conference room just a few doors down from the train station. There was a morning meet and greet with a welcome session of what to expect followed by a little breakfast then we were free to talk to the directors. It was just a case of walking around to chat with who you liked the look of. Then there was a bit of a talk about caring for those you’re put in charge of. We were young but some of us needed lessons in responsibility. We couldn’t exactly turn round and tell parents that we’d lost their children but they’re young and that they could have another one.

House Party #dreamdiary 198

We’re having a party! We have no idea what’s happening, even though we live in the house, as it’s being organised by another resident. We have no idea of who is coming or what is involved. All that we’ve been told is the date and time of the party and we’re welcome to attend. We’re keen to get things started as soon as possible, but our host hasn’t done much in the way of preparation. He’s in the shower getting ready and we’ve all gathered outside the bathroom to try and decipher what sort of party it will be and what the expected dress code is. We’ve managed to make some Pina Coladas from the ingredients lying around in the kitchen but it seems rude to start drinking them until our host is ready. There’s nothing in the way of extra food or drink being brought in. Perhaps he’s relying on everyone else to bring the big supermarket slabs of beer. Maybe food is being ordered in when everyone else arrives. Or perhaps we’re about to discover that it’s not that kind of party and we’re going to be extremely disappointed.