Blood Out of A Stone #dreamdiary 197

I’ve had to calla special meeting for our beer club. It’s to discuss some legal formalities which has to be observed by members who are higher up the table and I’ve had very little time to give any notice for it. Surprisingly, it’s very well attended and I see a lot of faces that I haven’t seen before. We get through the business very quickly which is in the upstairs board room of a fancy hotel. We all sit in a wooden panelled room and I start to wonder if people are only here because it’s a new venue for us and they’ve never had the opportunity to visit before. Some of the senior members have begun to question the work and commitment that I do in my role, but since this isn’t an election meeting they don’t have the authority to remove me from office. What they did do was to comment that the processes would all be changing next week and I would find out what was happening on Monday. But no-one would grant me any hints, and they also denied me the opportunity to address new attendees and to discuss regular events.

Feel Good, Fight Evil

 -The Doctor.

It’s not every day that you might get a chance to fight evil. You’re more likely to clean up after it. But going up against evil takes confidence. You want to do something about it because it shocks you. You’ve got to convince them that their act is wrong, and manage the conflict carefully. It’s going to be tough if there’s a physical confrontation that draws an audience with people that aren’t on your side. If you triumph, it gives you a good feeling. You’ve got control over something. But things could also get a lot worse if you lose, and many people aren’t prepared to take the risk. Some things are also on a grander scale than you can handle. You’re more like to win if there’s people nearby to help. You might even have time to formulate a plan to increase your chances of success. But bear in mind that some people could see you as in the wrong.

Zoom Zoom

 So here’s another fun way to communicate with people. You can see them, and you can take them with you, but only if you have the right equipment. There’s some great features that you can play around with like adding faces and backgrounds. Just remember to change them back afterwards if you’ve got a professional meeting. It’s not much different from any of the other platforms out there. It’s just a preference of what you’d prefer to use. It might depend on who owns the software and whether you’ve given them any money. There’s two annoying things that I have to do every time I use it which isn’t that often. I must verify my account via e-mail every time I use it(even though it states that it’s a one-time moment). When I’m finally signed in, I usually have to perform an update otherwise I’m going to miss out on something fun. It’s just quicker to use something else sometimes.

The Sales Call

It’s a difficult situation. No one wants to spend more money for things that they don’t need; yet it’s an independent company that offers quality for its supporters and you don’t want to be seen rejecting them. The guy seems friendly enough and has a local accent that you can understand but puts you under pressure for a quick decision. You’ll end up feeling guilty if you say no. It could be done by email, but it’s just too easy to ignore or press the delete button. You can have it on file for reference later, but it’s not going to help out the salesperson. But you might be able to wrangle a bit of a deal from their efforts. You’ll take the new product if you can have a small permanent reduction on the regular one. They won’t compromise though. They’ll just send you a follow-up email to make you think about it.

The Last Leg #habberleytrail 21

The final obstacle on the trail was an interesting one that was well engineered. Four swings were arranged at different heights. In the centre was a ball suspended on a rope. The idea was to get your swing up to a height where you could kick the ball while on your swing. The amazing thing was that each swing came in at a different angle so that no-one collided with each other. Little ones needed help to climb up on some of them. Then it was a climb back up the hill to the café, though there were plenty of opportunities to roll back down it if you wanted to. There was little choice left in the café on the hot front, and it took a while to receive the order. But the whole experience was something different and we all had a lot of fun. We look forward to additional activities along the trail.

Hot Tub Time Machine

This movie was just so stereotypically depressing. It’s a frat movie that was lucky enough to be given a big budget, probably because the whole filming would be one giant party. The opening seemed promising since it featured tubs throughout time and people enjoying them in various capacities. But the drink and suicide attempt soon put a downer on things. Throw in plenty of swearing and sucking up and you get the idea. The only part that I did like was the bellhop’s arm gag, and when it finally happened it was if the writers had got bored of the whole thing or they’d ran out of time. I also couldn’t understand how you’d get a spilled energy drink to last the whole evening. Its conclusion didn’t really inspire me or offer any insight into my own life. I feel like the producers owe me some time for watching this. And they’ve gone ahead and made a sequel!

Sack Sliding #habberleytrail 20

This slide, while looking slightly crude, makes the best of the landscape and is well designed. The wooden barrier is topped with a rubber lining should little hands find the slide too fast and wish to hold on, while the sack makes it a fast and smooth ride. A rail helps you up to the steps and gives you a bit of leverage to pull yourself off. And a felled tree trunk can quickly be sanded down into a bench to let adults take a rest. The girls were confident with the speed that they went down and the landing runway allowed them plenty of time recover without sliding off the end onto the floor. There were plenty of sacks around and you didn’t have to wait long to have a go. I certainly should have gone for a video instead, but these were the days when space was sacred.

Eye on a Pie

At first glance, it looks like a pie. It’s neat enough, with all those different fillings. But it’s actually a loaf. How do they get the bread to rise around the mountain of fillings? The only other thing that I can think of is that they carefully scoop the loaf out to make it hollow and use the fillings for something else. Now that I’ve read the description again, it’s exactly what they’ve done. Surely it would be better in pastry? And it looks like it’s being served in a boardroom rather than a kitchen, with chap office furniture that may even be a classroom. Maybe it’s the boss’s lunch. Why haven’t I followed these people before? They’re just down the road from me! It’s either the prices that put me off or I’ve been loafing around too much. I hope that they still sell it. It sounds like it takes a lot of effort to create.

Me and my Shadow #habberleytrail 19

While all of this was going on, something was stuck in the ground. It was dark and black, and moved as we did. Yet at the same time, it was see-through like a ghost. It looked like it was loading for another shot. There’s a flask hanging off my back but it might as well be a grenade. The whole thing could be a duffel bag that I’m about to unpack. Maybe someone’s coming down on a zipline and they’re about to crash into me. It could even be a punch bag. And then there’s the object in my hand. I know it’s my finger but it looks like an old-fashioned antenna. It’s almost as if it’s trying to communicate with what I assume is a finger at the top of the screen, though it could equally be the ear of something or someone else’s phone. All this is protruding from my foot.

Startled by Starling

I got recommended this bank by a friend when I was travelling abroad to India and needed to solve a currency problem. As India doesn’t allow its rupees to be exported, we needed to use a card that wouldn’t charge for overseas fees and ATMs. The application process seemed hi-tech, secure, and a little fun since I had to upload ID documents as well as a current photograph. I also requested a card that arrived quite quickly. While we were away, using the card was easy and I got an instant notification of what we spent and also the cost in sterling. This came in handy since the phone transaction lines were quite unstable which declined a lot of cards and caused confusion as to whether the transaction cleared. The monthly interest rate was an unexpected bonus. However, this was unfortunately remove two months ago, the only notification being a message in the app which took a while to find once I realised it hadn’t been paid. I would have preferred an e-mail which would have reminded me to act. Sending a message to the customer service department was easy in the app, and I got a reply the same day. Now I have a savings account, though I did lose a month’s interest in the process.

Bouncing Around #habberleytrail 18

The next obstacle on our course was a simple maze constructed from chicken wire and metal fencing. The aisles were a little narrow which made it difficult to navigate if we came to a dead end and someone was behind you. Also attached to this was a wooden box for a small football pitch complete with goals at each end. You could have a good kickaround here, but you’d need a few people in your group to have a match. There were plenty of footballs though. After that, we came to another ball game in the form of basketball. Rather than a court, a cage was constructed to create a giant connect 4 game. Here too, there were lots of basketballs. People enjoyed trying to make the shot more than playing a strategic game, though some groups were trying to compete against each other. You did have to keep an eye out for little ones to ensure that they didn’t get hit by stray balls.

 

Gringo Grief #dreamdiary 196

I’m being chased through a desert in a white tuxedo. I approach a pyramid building which has four sides. Inside, there’s sections of stairs that interlope between each floor. I run up to the fifth floor where a lot of people are hanging about the corridors. There’s a man who’s grinning outside the bar who takes his cigar out of his mouth and blows smoke in my face. He starts snarling at me. He’s wearing a green hat and a tattered green and orange poncho. I take the cigar out of his hand and shove it through his throat as if it had a knife inside. I carry on into the bar quickly as if nothing has happened before anyone cottons onto my vengeful action. I walk past the bar and through a dark hole in the brick wall where a stairway leads down into a connecting building. Here, I have an apartment to hide away in.

Trump's Tarrifs

It’s hard to say what Trump’s tariffs will affect on our isle almost three thousand miles away. Many of us are just sick of hearing about them. All we do know is that some prices will increase, though on what no-one seems to know. It may be on their goods, or it may be anything involved with a manufacturing process involving the US. It might seem a great opportunity to increase the country’s wealth and power at the cost of everyone else, but it might also backfire if people can choose not to purchase these goods. It might even inspire manufacturing elsewhere which is better for everyone both locally and environmentally. And then there’s the people that we currently buy from. They will struggle as they’re forced to seek out alternative markets to replace their income. Is this the right way to go about it? It’s subtle while affecting what people care about most of all; their cashflow.

Preparing for Take-Off #habberleytrail 17

This is a giant version of a see-saw, or what I would call a proper teeter-toter. You’ve got to tip the scale to make it work, either by running back and forth or by jumping up and down. There is a bit of confusion over what to do or how to make it work at first. It feels a bit like boarding a plane as there’s a gateway to board. There’s also a bit of a thud as each side lands and you really have to hold on or topple over yourself. It can be a bit boring if you’re just standing there and holding on. You have to be careful if there’s little ones about and go at a slower speed. Luckily, the bottom is fenced off so that curious minds can’t be crushed though there’s nothing to stop you from jumping over the platform if you really wanted to.

Spinning Around #nuclearmermaid 22

The boom put some of the bipeds off. They also couldn’t seem to penetrate her scales. With a swipe of tail, she knocked the nearest one out cold. With a second well-aimed blow, her fin penetrated the biped, and red liquid started to ooze out of his shirt. The others started to retreat.

‘Come on men, have no fear. This creature is the scientific discovery of a lifetime’ said the lead biped as he stood parallel to the table, but a few of them headed out through the door, clearly recognising her superior strength. He suddenly realised that he was the only man left in the room, and Jenny was blocking his exit. If he went for the tail, he would surely be stabbed. But if he went for the head, it might not be as protected and he had a chance to get to the exit and escape her grasp.

Off the Rails #habberleytrail 16

This is a simply constructed game that’s a lot of fun, though someone could fall off or trip in between the holes. But it’s up to you if you want to take part. The aim of the game is to find a route to the end. There’s arrows marked on some of them to give you a choice of direction while others don’t permit you to pass to the next junction. It’s a balance game with a puzzle to solve, though the rails are wide enough for you to keep balance while only allowing one person on them at a time, though you can always step round them, into a hole, or onto an adjacent beam and back again to let them pass. And little ones are free to be let loose or led along by adults. I think the idea of the gap is so that grown-ups can come and intervene quickly if there are any problems.

Can I refuse to do an Exit Interview with my boss?

It depends on your employment contract, so you’ll have to check it carefully. There may be a penalty if you don’t, especially if you’re relying on a reference. If you do go ahead with one, you must ensure that it’s on the company time and that it’s recorded so that you can be paid appropriately. It should also be during the notice period. If you’re forced to come back afterwards, made sure that it’s at their expense and not your own. And be careful of emails inviting you to complete surveys as well. These should also be on their time as they get paid to read or process them so why shouldn’t you get paid to complete them? Make sure an upfront payment is agreed and that it’s immoral of them to ask otherwise, unless of course you’re feeling quite chummy and you really want to help the company out.

Methods of Escape #habberleytrail 15

So are we going to get across before these younger ones catch up with us? Do they realise where the hidden step is? Will they get a telling-off by their carers? Or will someone even more mischievous stand on the opposite end of the bridge to block their exit? There’s no way to go unless you’re that desperate to step over the chains or run through and attempt to knock over someone. Or you could try to pull them into the spout and use them as a shield. The other thing to do is to take a leap into the trees beyond and hang onto the branch or use it to lower yourself to the ground. There’s a great risk of a snapping branch though, they don’t look big enough to hold an adult. But at the end of the day, it’s only a bit of water and there’ll be other opportunities to get revenge.

 

Can't Touch This

I look forward to your touch. Those long presses of the arrow keys during video games are the best. They put me in absolute climax since I’m being held down. In comparison with typing, I’m being teased as fingers lightly pat each letter. If mistakes have been made, pressing the backspace key is beautiful, though the use of the mouse takes away most of the pleasure nowadays. I don’t mind a little bit of dirt. It does build up a bit over the years, as I’m always there for your input. It’s strange that the least used keys always attracts the most dirt. Perhaps it’s the build-up of dust which isn’t collected by your hands. You might want to clean me to remain attracted to me, but I’d recommend that you disconnect me before you do this and let me dry out afterwards so that I don’t assist in any unnecessary input.

Secret Step #habberleytrail 14

A short walk down a wooded trail leads to the next obstacle. It’s just an innocent rope bridge. It’s built parallel to the hill and it’s not too high or steep to encourage grown-ups to climb up and have a go as well. However, all is not as it seems. There’s a bit of a giveaway if you spot the pipes climbing up the side. A certain step halfway up the ladder contains a trigger to activate a hosepipe which releases a short, hard burst of gassy water right across the centre of the bridge. You may think that it goes off randomly at first, especially if you’re the first person to arrive. You’ve got to dash through in the hope that you won’t be caught out. But if you’re hesitant and cause a queue to build up on the steps, you could get very wet indeed, especially if someone’s little darling already knows where the trigger is and has the evilness to get you as wet as possible.

When should I put up my Christmas tree?

I’m guessing that this isn’t going to be a game but whatever someone feels like writing. It might be surprised as to why it isn’t up yet. Or it might actually look at a calendar and decide that I’m made for asking. The answer is a very long-winded opinion. December is the earliest, though it does advise that some people put it up as early as possible. You can also ask for help in decorating the tree, though I suspect this involves a link being sent to make purchases. But it actually doesn’t. Instead I need to choose a theme. I thought the theme would have been Christmas. On top of this, there’s also a warning to make sure that people take them down in the first week of January. I wonder if people genuinely rely on these answers for their queries. They must obey. Next question: when should I change my underwear?

Me Tarzan, me Jane #habberleytrail 13

This is one of my favourite pictures of all time. It’s cuteness and determination all bundled up into one. She’s not just giving it a go, she’s determined to show her sister up by being better and not being scared at all. Even some of the trees are bending over and waving in support as she whizzes past. For all we know, she might have even jumped out of them and this is the big finale. It might even be part of a telegraph pole and the seat could be forgiven for its fixings. Fortunately, it’s just  plastic wrap which makes it easier to hold on to. She might have even grown a bigger arm in the process. The crossed legs shows that she’s going to cling on for a while, and she’s not going to come off easily. At least not until someone stops the rope from swinging so that she can climb off safely.

Friends who Ground You

Some friends aren’t willing to share your experiences. This makes it difficult to do what you want. Sometimes you’ve just got to do it alone. You might be glad that you’ve left them behind. But at other times they might be doing it to protect you without you even realising. They might distract you, but they might also help you to find a solution that’s more sensible. It’s a matter of opinion, but if you ignore it, they may be reluctant to give you an opinion when you need it. And they might also help you to focus on what you need to achieve by giving you the space to do it, or by giving you a break by helping you with something that you enjoy. Just make sure that you don’t overdo it, and that you’re able to be on form when you need to. If you need to break away, they’d appreciate your honesty so that you don’t alienate them.

A Swing and a... #habberleytrail 12

I think she’s enjoying it. There’s a look of true exhilaration without any fear or being forced to pose. She’s not coming off there in a hurry. Look close and you can see a grin of rebellion and mischief. The ground looks quite rough and red. I hope she’s preparing for a soft landing somewhere so that there’s no worries if she does fall off. Hopefully it’s not the blood of those who have ridden before. A premature fall could end up with very muddy clothes. And the equipment does look a bit ancient with a bit of rust at the end of it, though the angle could be due to the hill it’s mounted on. But at least we’re in the remote countryside in a family environment surrounded by similar people so there’s no fear of the fun being halted by others who want to disrupt everyone’s fun. Wheee!

Backyard Byron

I was a bit nervous setting out to a campsite that I’d found on the web. I could have been fooled with some photographs and a postcode that could take me to some locked gates. I certainly wasn’t prepared to set off without a phone number. But whatever happened, I still had a tent and sleeping bag with me, so it wasn’t as if I would be homeless. I just might be after a bathroom and trespassing. On approach, it looks like it’s a well-maintained and thought-out area. Even though it’s a single-track road, there’s a verge to allow other vehicles to pass, with a wall with a footpath on the other side. Everything was professionally laid out, and the check-in was simple. All I had to do was report to the farmer’s cottage, and there was ample parking. The campsite was busy with activity as people were claiming their sites, but it wasn’t disruptive.

Hold on Tight #habberleytrail 11

You never know which way the ride is going to tilt. Will you be able to keep up with the pace? You’ve got to keep your wits about you in a new environment. You never know when one of those in the horses in the distance might get a little curious and come over to say hello. But once you get into the rhythm and work out what’s going on, you can relax, let your guard down and enjoy the experience for a bit, hopefully without worrying that hands might reach out of the ground and drag you into it.  I wonder if you can engineer it to go backwards. If a storm approaches, let’s hope that those slabs do the job and help keep the ride from tilting over. I’m not convinced by the amount of grass that’s allowed to get in between the cracks. Focusing on the waving branches may be more relaxing.

Chasing Royalty #dreamdiary 195

We’re out on holiday. It’s the last day of the trip. Usually, we’d take our time checking out and stop off at some interesting places on the way back home. But the royals are doing a tour. They’re visiting a town and taking a drive into the country afterwards in a green customised Land Rover to visit a specific tree in a national park. And we’ve figured out which one it is. We wonder how close we can get without security or road closures hindering us. We make a picnic and spend the day camping out at the spot for a while before boredom sets in. We tune in to local news channels to listen to the hysteria to try and figure out when they’re leaving without any luck. We give up and decide to head for home. We pass a café where Prince William is sitting outside with his family accompanied by his mother’s handbag. He draws out two ping pong balls that were once kept in his mother’s cleavage.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

I wasn’t sure if the first film was worthy of a sequel but someone somewhere made a decision. As it’s based on the internet, I wonder if that was where it was released. For a kid’s film, it was quite long but there’s lots of characters from other films that I recognised so I suppose that’s what kept them on their toes. It was great to see the Disney princesses in a modern casual slumber party setting; mocking their past values and embracing the future. Even Shank demonstrated the same values; though its GTA/Carmageddon setting could have included some more child-friendly content for the target audience. I couldn’t see Ralph in a Dad or caring role because of his intelligence which doesn’t leave him open to another film unless there’s a new character to follow. Perhaps it’s safe to assume that he’s going to retire from his arcade days and only feature as a pop-up culture reference character.

The World keeps Turning #habberleytrail 10

People don’t always realise what effects their actions have on the environment and on others. Even if the ride stops and there’s no-one on it, the world keeps on turning. Perhaps there’s other rides in other countries to help keep this thing going. Children everywhere are encouraging the earth to keep spinning by taking a spin themselves, while those who don’t spin just stay stationary. They’re amazed that they turn while the rest of the world stays put. Perhaps they see the trees rising and falling as they spin around, not realising the altitude that they’re at. Perhaps they’re planning their landing spot in case it keeps on spinning and they have to jump off. After all, it’s the first time that they’ve rode this thing. It’s the dizziness afterwards that puts people off as they try to adjust to their former habitat. Will they want to ride it again?

Rogue zebra pulls a hit-and-run after being involved in a traffic accident

The question that we’ve got to ask is why did the zebra cross the road in the first place? How did we know it was rogue? Had it escaped from somewhere? Surely there’s a joke in this somewhere. Perhaps it was trying to blend in by lying in the road thinking that the driver would stop for it then it could trot across the road safely. And of course, there’s the aftereffects. We don’t know what damage was caused to the vehicle, whether the driver was emotionally traumatised or whether anyone need medical or veterinary assistance. We mustn’t assume that the zebra wasn’t driving either. In rural areas it might be quite common with animals loose over the road so why not with zebras in other countries? Or a crossing could have  become animate and ran off the road when something was on top of it. Let’s hope that it wasn’t read all over.

Balancing Act #habberleytrail 9

The next obstacle wasn’t far. It was up a small hill behind a set of trees with a clearing over a valley. It was probably where a hole or a tee used to be. Four self-propelled rides stood here alongside a few benches which were mostly occupied by parents. The harder you pull, the higher your rider goes. You also propel around in a circle backwards as well, though most people would have preferred to go forwards. I wonder how it does this. One of the other rides involved a roped-off area where you took a leap of faith off the mound and swung around in a circle. The little niece required a bit of help getting onto the seat, but she wanted the biggest push and she looked so brave, small and cute dangling in the air. Getting down isa bit difficult if you don’t complete the full circle.

Moonpigging

The size system took some figuring out. It turns out that the small size is slightly smaller than a regular card, and the large card was bigger than A5 but still smaller than A4. It’s a bit difficult to find out the actual dimensions once you select a template. It’s one way that they get you. You’ve also got to get your money’s worth by taking advantage of the blank spaces to fill them with photographs and stickers. Don’t be fooled by the text either, if you like a card but it’s got the wrong occasion, in most cases you can change the text completely unless the number of characters is significant. We did save a bit finding a promotional code through google, but the only way to make a great saving is to plan all of your occasions and put them into one basket. That takes a lot of sitting down, which is something that’s hard to find time to do.

The Invisible Horse #habberleytrail 8

And she’s off! She’s managed to mount the thing all on her own. She’s crawled over the first barrel, and there’s now a bit of hesitation as she approaches the rotating one. She’s opted to spread her legs either side to keep her balance. A cautious, slow and careful approach to ensure that she doesn’t end up on the floor. Can she complete the crossing? The independent adjudicator is on hand to make sure that she does it all on her own. Will she crawl or will she take a leap? She won’t be a winner until she descends the steps on the other side. But it’s a nice, peaceful backdrop and there’s no pressure to be rushed. There’s no strangers in the audience and everyone’s on hand to help her up again should she fail. But the important thing is that she’s giving it a go and she’s not giving up.

Newcastle United end 70-year wait for omestic trophy after beating Liverpool in Carabo Cup final

They’ve been waiting a long time. So long that everyone’s forgotten the tournament that the headline’s referring to. What was a Carabo? Was it a car made in the north? Perhaps it’s been renamed since then. The sponsor is a Thai energy drink. I doubt that people have been waiting seventy years for one of those, though if you look at the madness when Prime became an energy drink as well as a TV and delivery service, you can kind of see their logic. It sounds like one of those invented flavours that you’d hear about on a sitcom. We’ve certainly sold out. It’s a shame that we couldn’t get hold of an English sponsor. Perhaps there’s an ownership issue that makes sense to a billionaire somewhere or a foreigner that wants to be a part of our great pastime. But it’s good to see traditional football returning without all these foreign teams that no-one’s entirely sure where they’re from.

The Monkey Roll #habberleytrail 7

Onto the next challenge: crossing the barrels. They’re a mixture of foam and plastic but the plastic ones rotate. You’ve got the option to crawl across the top of the pipe, or stand up and walk or run along if you’re feeling brave enough. Although the barrels aren’t high up, the landscape that they’re placed on is a ridge of the former golf course which creates a bit of height. There’s a school gym-style crash mat placed below to help cushion the blow of any accidents. I was also worried that the youngest niece was too small to do some of these activities but she gave it a good go. The oldest one was just tall enough to land a foot on the floor to prevent herself from toppling over. There’s also an impressive view. Look south on the right day and you just might see a steam railway in the distance.

 

Picking a Priest #empress 23

The monks started to increase their chanting. Faster and faster they chanted, while standing and kneeling repeatedly with their hands reaching from the air into the ground. The empress watched in fascination until the repetitiveness of it started to give her a headache.

‘All right, that’s enough of that’ she said. With a pinch of two fingers, she lifted one of them up into the air. The chanting ceased instantly. ‘Ah, that’s got your attention. Oh, you poor gentlemen. You’ve probably spent your entire lives dedicated to this temple. It’s a shame that you haven’t been able to do anything useful with your lives. Here, let me show you a real woman'.

With that, she placed the priest directly into her cleavage. Each one of her oversized breasts was plumper than the temple at this point. It was amazing how she could anything of that size around. You had to admire the royal seamstress’s work.

Roll Over #habberleytrail 6

It’s amazing how many people cheer you on to complete a task. It’s mostly for their own reasons so that you can stop being a barrier to their progression. It usually means that they can have a go or that they don’t have to be polite and listen to you anymore. They don’t like to be kept waiting, especially if they’re waiting for someone to go and fetch more drinks. But they do like to be entertained. If you can keep a crowd, they’ll be happy to listen to anything you say. It’s easier for them to just watch you. They might even do your bidding as well They’ll certainly think and discuss it. The sky will turn blue and everything will seem more attractive as you process this new wisdom. Or you could just be appreciating the world and the fact that you don’t have to listen to that voice anymore.

Why do British Pubs have such perculiar names? Is there a rule to naming them?

There’s no rule to naming them, though profanity must be avoided so as not to remain controversial. People generally like to refer to them as something of the history of the area. The pub itself is a landmark and helps as a reference for locals describing their area to others. Even the most modern ones like to refer to what was in the area originally. The most traditional names like to declare their alliance to the throne. I doubt that a lot of towns had red lions roaming around. A lot of other animal names are used. Occasionally, a name will be changed simply because the people who ran it previously gave it a bad reputation, or the new owners want a fresh start. Each pub may also have something characteristic inside to set itself from others like a well. Otherwise it would just be known as the pub. If I were to name a pub, I’d call it The Naughty Vicar.

Take a bow #habberleytrail 5

You’ve worked very hard to entertain all these children. No doubt a few grown-ups decided to have a go when no-one thought they were watching as well. I love your moustache. It just gives you so much attitude. You’ve had to submit many a time for a pose when all you really want to do is vault everyone over and gallop off into the distance. You could float away if you weren’t tied down. You’d probably knock over little ones and send pushchairs wheeling off down the hill in the process. You could even have someone’s eye out with your horns. Oh, the chaos. I wonder how detachable you are from your mount? At least if you charge towards any buildings, you’re not going to do any damage because you’re too big to fit through the door. But if you were to hit any power lines, that could make things very interesting.

Bad Teacher

Where you when I needed you? Why weren’t you doing your job? Every time you were absent, I was getting upset and humiliated. I needed help and I couldn’t cope by myself. There was no-one there to help me. I even went looking for you. No-one tells me to conform or do what everyone else does. I just want the same respect and opportunities as everyone else. For some reason, everyone wants me to be different and unique. But I don’t expect special treatment. I wonder if everyone gets jealous of this. It’s a shame that I have to fight for my rights otherwise I’m going to get trodden on. I find it hard to seek out someone who will trust me and help me. When I am being given advice, I’m trying to decide whether I’m being told off and I should ignore what’s being put in front of me.

Cowgirls #habberleytrail 4

The bull has been tamed. We didn’t need to grab it by the horns. It just stayed where it was supposed to. Getting the girls to stay on the buffalo and look at the camera at the same time was a completely different story. They were too focused on holding on or falling off. I couldn’t stop laughing as every time we placed them on one side, they slid off the other. This was still at the tee-off stage of the trail, and we had a long of exploring still to do. I wonder how long the lad on the left had been waiting and whether he had anyone else with him to pull the rope for him. He probably feels as deflated as the bull in the evenings. Sorry fella, I’ve got my hands full. I can’t have a pop at you, but someone who turns up in high heels probably would.

Credit Catastrophe #dreamdiary 194

I’ve just processed a credit application at work. It’s all gone a bit wrong. I’ve put the sale through without taking any of the customer’s details and I haven’t printed off any of the paperwork either. I’ve just cashed the sale out and the customer has just walked away. They are now expecting the goods to be delivered and they haven’t made any arrangements to pay for them. My boss is expecting the store to be one step closer to completing our weekly target and will be looking for the paperwork for it at the end of the week. And I’m wondering if the customer was a test and that I haven’t answered the questions correctly for an audit. I can reverse the sale and tell my boss that it was a home delivery rather than an application. But I’m still left with a feeling of dread that these questions will come back to haunt me.

Do you like my Christmas Tree?

I wonder if this is going to be a similar response as the ‘Christmas Jumper’ question. Should I get ready for an onslaught of insults? Or will it do the opposite and recognise my hard work of untangling strings of lights and knot-tying skills? The first response sounds as if I’ve only put it together and haven’t added anything to it at all. Maybe you can never have a tree that’s too decorated. I’ve got to add some more tinsel. I wonder how many of these phrases does she have before it get repetitive? They are a bit boring though, and it does feel strange asking this in March when there’s no tree to be seen. And I could be referring to something completely different as well. It’s enough to turn you on. The response is different every time. She tries to please but she’s never satisfied herself. I wonder what I’m being compared to?

Rodeo Time #habberley 3

This was great to fun to play with the girls once they were on. A bit of lifting and placing was required after some very determined bouncing and jumping. Rather than have a complete stranger operate a joystick, family members can take the reins and pull the buffalo as little or as hard as they like to either give the rider a pleasant journey or a buckaroo! Little ones can also return the favour once they’ve been shaken off. You could really do with somewhere to take your shoes off that doesn’t leave your feet wet and won’t get in the way of other people’s bouncing. It could also be very slippery when wet, or even sweaty if it’s not wet. I suppose to just have to grab it by the horn and take your chances. Hopefully no one’s going to get injured, though I think there’s a disclaimer on admission.

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.”

It’s a good motto to live by. If you can think of an idea or action that you want to do, then you should go ahead and seek out a way to achieve it. Think, believe, do. It’s so simple. It might not be a path of righteousness, but at least you’ll achieve what you desire, even though others might want to stop you if they think that your actions are unjust. Hopefully you can conceive them stopping you and still find a way to reach your goal. Unfortunately, your heart is a physical animated object. It has no mind of its own, so getting it to believe in something is going to be difficult. You’ve got to learn and love the process of getting what you want and put the effort in to do it. You’ve got to make sure that no one is going to throw hurdles to stop you.

Basketball Bounce #habberley 2

This top section which hosts the café is also where the power is, but there’s so much to play with that’s electric-free! As we’d booked a slot before the busy rush, we were able to get on the fun things quite quickly before queues started to form. The first thing that we climbed onto was a giant netted trampoline. After pressing a button, balls shot out in all directions and we had to throw them back into a net at the centre. The balls rolled into a tube underneath the trampoline ready to be fired out again. The engineering of it was simple yet majestic as it worked. We had a good minute on this, then there was a debate as to whether to have another go or let the next group take part. As it wasn’t marshalled, I wonder if complaints ever broke out? I don’t think we were spotted.

Dial a Bus

Who ya gonna call? Well, when you’re a bit confused about the timetables or you think your bus is cancelled then you can ring these guys for help, especially if you can’t get online. But if you can get online, then they’ll probably tell you the same thing that you can read off the screen. You might think that they’ll be able to give you some extra information like the bus has broken down, or you’ll have to wait for the next one while they replace the driver. But you’ll be lucky if you can get through someone who can pronounce the town’s name correctly. And if you ring at night, you may as well ask them for a taxi firm number. It might not be the result that you want, and you might not even get through to anyone, but you still have to pay them for using the line.

On the Trail #habberley 1

My boss recommended that we take the girls here on the basis that she hears loads of kids running about having fun from her house, and it didn’t disappoint. It used to be a golf course, and you can tell by the landscape which still has the occasional flat area where the holes used to be. Now it’s an activity trail for families to explore, with games and obstacles scattered around the course. On arrival, you park on a steep hill then climb the top to the gate where your entrance ticket is scanned. You’re then in the park with just you and your party and whoever’s out there. In this first activity, we have to use the two rails to get the ball into the cup by controlling the distance between them. We can control both the horizontal and vertical axis. It’s a balancing act that requires patience and concentration.

The Greatest Showman

This works well as an adaption of a musical rather than a film, as that’s what everyone really wants to see. It’s interesting that in this case, the film was made before the musical. It does seem odd that characters burst into song randomly, yet that melody could last an evening or a whole decade. Jackman exhibits his cuddlier to attract the female viewers, while others are made to marvel at the circus freaks, though it’s a shame that they weren’t given more screen time to develop as individual characters. We also focus on just one showman. It would have been an interesting angle to portray other showmen who would have to prove who is the greatest. But what I do like about the tale is that it encourages you to never give up on your dreams. The actions are inspirational to do whatever it takes to get to the top.

On yer Head

This little one’s had a great week. She’s got a brilliant pose to show that she’s at the top of her game. The only reason she joined was to prove that she could do better than her elder sister and her cousin, and it’s really given her confidence which will take her far in sport. She’s so proud of her achievement and her expression says it all. I hope that it was a presentation at the end of a training day rather than just handed out to her on the way home. I’m trying to work out what the creature on the certificate is. It could represent a lioness. I hope that the net behind her isn’t a real goal though, otherwise it’ll take ages for someone to score. Hopefully it’s just a target net and the black bar or paint line behind her is the real goal. She’s certainly joined a great team. I wonder who they’re playing?

Pride

What’s it all about? There’s a bit of confusion. Is it all to do with tolerance and understanding of other sexualities? Is it an excuse for a party? Or do you have to swear allegiance to a particular sexuality? It’s not always clear what’s going on. I was once on a pub crawl which coincided with a Pride Day, and we had proper shire people with us whose jaws just dropped when they saw what was happening on these event stages. It honestly looks like something off TV, people who just want to bring attention to themselves. They certainly glam themselves up to make them look like a larger-than-life character. It’s a shame that these groups have such a stronghold over the word, and that we can’t celebrate our community without rainbows being involved. It’s a minority group, but it’s so easy to be labelled as discriminatory if you’re not into it.

Who let that Tramp in? #ralphcourtgardens 19

So here I am, the author of these musings. Will I return to these gardens? I think there’s something for everyone and I wouldn’t mind another visit; if only for a bit of my favourite gardens and in the hope that others have been renewed or replaced. I wouldn’t like it to be too crowded though as you’d be restricted to where to go It’d be nice to think that the hedge behind me is a maze in progress with a viewpoint built in front of the pine tree. The gardens aren’t easy to get to though. You certainly need to make the time for the journey. I’d hope that the café would be a bit quieter to be able to sample some local food or have the opportunity to visit a local pub nearby. Hopefully I’ll have shaven by then, my hair won’t be in clumps, and my teeth will be a bit straighter.

Wowcher

I found a great gift for my mother’s birthday; an afternoon tea for two at a local luxury hotel. She could either invite me or take a friend along. I was a bit confused by the pricing and hadn’t used Wowcher in a while so I wasn’t  sure if I was signing up for a paid subscription as well. I also looked at booking it through the hotel’s website and although Wowcher was cheaper, I do believe that it’s not the saving that was initially advertised. The only downside with the e-mail gift is that the voucher that comes via email and could be a little more presentable to print out to give as a gift. There is a postal option to have the voucher printed and sent for you but the timescales aren’t clear and the cost increases. The voucher was easy to redeem and there were no problems checking in at the venue and I’m told that Mum and her friend had a wonderful time. 

Miniature Gardens #ralphcourtgardens 18

At first glance, I thought this was a miniature line of trees lining a paved path into a hedgerow.  Perhaps it was the entrance for a children’s maze. It’s the height of the fence next to it which is also confusing. There’s even  a building beyond that, but even that could be miniature. The only large building that I can remember being on site is the entrance and administration building. But I could  have also taken it from a height of a balcony overlooking the gardens from a café, but I don’t remember being that high up. Perhaps it is the work of a miniature garden in progress. Beyond the gap in the hedge is something in white. It could be a statue, but if it’s a person it’s difficult to picture them emerging through the gap. I like how the trees get taller from left to right, but again that could just be from my perspective.  

 

Pope thanks well-wishers as he records message in hospital

It’s nice that that the Pope acknowledges his followers of their well wishes to get well soon. But is it because they know him at a personal level or that they’re keen to see him get back up on his feet and continue the job? It’s a traditional joke that becoming Pope is a fast-track way into heaven because of the work involved, but when it’s dragged out all sorts of details can be unveiled about your past, especially at that age. Some might argue about the lifestyle that you lead and that you should have set an example. And he does look a little on the chubby side. Perhaps he’s been taking too much advantage of the finer things and that he hasn’t been exercising enough. But for a figure who’s supposed to represent the world internationally, he certainly hasn’t been practising his English. You’d think that  there’d be better procedures for him to be treated in somewhere other than a hospital though.

Green Green Grass #ralphcourtgardens 17

The green is spreading and they’re probably going to be next. But despite all that we’ve seen today, the girls are still happy to sit and pose. They probably haven’t noticed the giant insect carved on the wooden bust. It looks like there’s a real one on the top left of the stump, though it could also be a plant leaf in the shade. The light on the leaf of the left girl could be mistaken for a dragonfly at first sight. Who knows what other insects are within? It doesn’t seem to bother them and they’re still happy to sit there and pose. Perhaps the right one is beginning to realise that something could emerge from the undergrowth and up her leg at any time. It would be great if a spider were to jump down upon them at this very moment, though they’d probably be scarred for life and would never dare to set foot in a natural environment ever again if it did.

Winding Tracks #dreamdiary 193

I’m off on the mountain trail. I’m setting off to reach Black Tor, a national footpath which takes me to a peak then down into a town where I can catch a train back to the car. I set off through a gated archway through a park where there’s a bricked dome-topped building with a museum inside. The trail then winds its way alongside fenced fields before curving round to reach the mountainside. The top is quite foggy so I don’t hang about for long and make straight down the other side to the train station. Upon arrival, I bump into my niece and my sister-in-law who’s been booked onto the Santa express. As I have time to kill before my train, I take my niece for a walk to the end of the platform to visit the train’s museum. She becomes enthralled in all the exhibits but when I return her to her mother I discover that she has already departed on the Santa Express.

The Bitch's Itch #devilsdaughter 23

Lucinda needed more. Something to balance the other side. It was an itch that she couldn’t scratch. There was just too much cleavage in the way. And even though she was big, it was getting harder for her to wrap her arms around one of them. Although she was strong, she was still feminine and she’d prefer it if someone else were to do the heavy lifting, though it might take many hands to give her the support that she needed. She could also do with something to wipe off the sweat. Then again, it was just herself and her newlywed husband in the building now. Why should she have to restrain herself? With a massive groan, she released what was a very tight button on her corset which was holding her ensemble together. There was a might boom as the building shook and dust descended from the rafters. Evidently Lucinda had underestimated how tight her corset really was.

Knight Knight #ralphcourtgardens 16

The future queens have ascended their garden throne! It’s a casual day today as it’s just a rehearsal which is why the cushions haven’t been placed, although no-one told the guard next to them. He must be feeling a bit warm, though he is colour-coordinated with the throne. When he’s off-duty, I can imagine his helmet opening and closing quite comically as he talks. It’s good to se that the throne is armed with a sword protruding from the back and another on the front wall of the seat, though it’ll be difficult to envisage the queens lifting them. It’ll be handy for a bit of knighting though. There’s also some light coming in from the back panel. I wonder if that’s a secret escape route? The little one looks as if she’s getting ready to test it out. I wonder how detachable those shields are and whether they’re any good. Their size is probably for hidden items behind them or they activate the trapdoor. 

Is the British invasion called that in the UK?

I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Could it possibly be the Revolution when Americans earned their independence? I can’t think of much that we particularly invaded and took over, apart from small ports in order to trade with the rest of the country, though we did keep a bit of it for ourselves. Most people didn’t know that it was happening owing to the communication technology available at the time. Others might mishear the term and use it for when the English invaded Wales and Scotland, though they’d refer to the invaders as English rather than British. Some people seem to think it happened when the Beatles came to America, but all they wanted to do is play a few records. So can I think the same way when Trump pops over to play golf? But if you take the intelligence of some people, it could be the sale of Cadbury bars for all they know. Sometimes a bit of context is good.

The Wind in the Willows #ralphcourtgardens 15

This looks too colourful to be real but it is. On a wet day, this could be a dumping ground for rubbish. Some garden maintenance is desperately needed, the fence especially looks a bit crooked. Perhaps Toad’s goal once he’s finished his breakfast. He could use the caravan to straighten the fence out, or throw the whole thing and the hall inside the caravan into the back of the caravan for fuel. Poor Toad himself is a bit out of place and proportion; he’s massive compared to his hall but it could be argued that’s it’s further away. Toad also appears a bit on the larger size, and also a little tatty, though it could be argued that he outgrew his clothes. I’ve never known him to eat breakfast outside a caravan either, though I suppose that this could be his new life since he’s too big to fit inside the hall. Of course he could have fell through the sky out of his plane through the hole in the bush to land in a convenient place which explains the blue hole above him.

That kid who hurt your feelings at School

How are you feeling? Are you proud of what you did? Do you think that everyone likes you because of it? Are you doing the right thing? What are the effects of your actions? Do you want to make people feel miserable and take bad jobs because they constantly live in fear of change and they feel useless because they can’t make good things happen? They’re never going to trust people again. It’s going to make them feel very difficult when they approach other people for help because they feel that they’re going to get in trouble every time and they’ll have to go through the whole process of being scared again. It’ll make them too worries and dream up bad situations that could get worse with every thought. Think about how scared they’re feeling. They’ll always want to avoid a fight and take the easy way out. Think about what you’ve done. How can you make it right?

We are Siamese if you please #ralphcourtgardens 14

It’s certainly got an Asian edge with the gateway behind them. But I think the girls have had enough of poses. One wants to yell and burn off excess energy while the other one has trouble keeping still. It’s also a lot warmer than we thought that it would be which means that they have to carry their cardigans around. But at least the smaller one recognises the lion and is attempting to imitate it. It’s strange how the grass is roped off by a red bamboo cane. Should I be oof the grass or should the girls not be on the stone? But they won’t be around for long as the gargoyle above the portal has found them and is prepping to google them up. Maybe it’s the colour of their cardigans that’s attracting it. The right side is paying more attention. It’s more fertile so the taller one will be the first to go.

Do you like my Christmas Jumper?

So this is a new one. The ultimate kiss ass machine. How is it supposed to see you? I suppose I’ve you’ve got the later model with a built-in camera then it might be able to compare it with others, but for the unit solely with a microphone, how is it going to judge? Will I have to give it a detailed description? Will it tell me to bugger off for being sad since I’m two months out of date? Will it ignore the whole request and feign ignorance with the view that I’ll get a more favourable response in the lead-up to Christmas? I actually get insulted. At least it’s an honest response. Maybe it varies. The adjective is still the same, but the verb and metaphor is different. Santa, Rudolph, and a snowman have all retreated in disgust. I can only hope that it’s more complimentary in the month that I’m supposed to wear it.

Origin of the Passion #ralphcourtgardens 13

This is where it all originally started. Mum saw a flower here and fell in love with it. We took a picture and asked a man on the desk in the gift shop if he knew what it was. Amazingly, he did! As I was stuck for a gift idea, I started to investigate it as a Christmas gift for her, and found a nursery based in Northern Island that sold them on Amazon. I’d need somewhere warm and dry to keep the plant, so my brother agreed to store it in his conservatory until the big day. As it was difficult to wrap, I just put the planting card inside an envelope since we were going there anyway. Since then, my brother’s admired it so I bought a second plant for his garden. Although our climate isn’t hot enough for the fruit to grow, it still produces an attractive flower on a vine that can be positioned on a fence.

“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

 -J.K Rowling (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).

You can learn a lot of someone’s bad habits from watching people. It’s how they react to others that counts. Do they treat them the same way that they do their peers? Or do they expect more out of them and are they less welcoming? Listen hard and see what they say to them. Do they sound condescending? Do they sound disappointed that they have to deal with them? Do they scowl or retreat at the sight of them? But of course, if you’re caught being too observant then if they realise that you’re onto them they may alter their behaviour. This might even cause confusion since the other person is expecting to deal with the negative behaviour. But if you can’t work out who the inferiors are then you’re onto a good person. The problem is that if he considers that he has inferiors in the first place. I wonder if we’re expected to use the same process for women?

Up the Villa #ralphcourtgardens 12

These genuinely look like real apartments. They could rent them out to visitors that just want some peace and quiet and inspiration. They’ve got a few hours spare in the evenings when everyone else goes home to make sketches and have a bit of tranquillity and escapism. It would only need a bed and a shower inside; maybe a small kitchenette if they don’t want to live off the offerings of the café. There’s an interesting skylight in the corner that almost makes it look like there’s a lighthouse. I suppose there could be a tower of stairs inside to gain access to a first floor on the right. Perhaps there’s a hatch that lets the gardeners climb through the window to trim the foliage on top of the rooftops or scrub the tiles. But the fountain has climbed higher to better attract our attention. If one jet gets out of place, it could certainly soak passers-by.

The Bull's Head Inn

This pub has had a strange history. It’s still a pub, and very much a drinking hole for the locals, but it’s a shame that the family haven’t treated it right and they’re not making an honest buck out of it. It’s run by a father whose son used to run a brewery just down the road. The brewery produced fantastic beers, but the father neglected them when it came to displaying them on the bar since he never cleaned his lines so everyone was getting tainted pints. Enraged, the son refused to supply beer to the pub, which is now trying to market itself as being owned by a brewery by placing its letters high outside on the entrance wall. It does serve food which I’ve never sampled. I’ve never heard of it being complimented, though they have put up blackboards by junctions which gives a whiff of desperation.

Mirror Mirrored #ralphcourtgardens 11

It feels like a piece of Sicily. It’s the sunshine combined with the curvy roof tiles. The mirrored windows are a beautiful effect. At any time you could visualise a senorita flinging them open to let some air in, hang up some washing or let a lasagne cool on the windowsill. But then you’ve got to ask what have they got to look out of? Hopefully it’s a see-through mirror. The fountain is beautifully shaped, but you’ve got to wonder where that water comes from and how it’s used in the villas behind. And is the emblem on the stone in front a real practical rope, or is it part of the architecture? The grass looks perfectly cut, but there’s an out-of-place rose in the right-hand corner that looks like the shuttlebug from Red Dwarf. It’s certainly an alien enough picture as you wouldn’t find this view practical anywhere, especially when there’s a hanging basket look-alike just above it.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

It was good to see the pair back on screen again, but it’s a shame that the plot didn’t focus on something new. I also expected a bigger budget with some guest appearances and a bigger voice cast. There were some great cameo appearances on the franchise but they could have included more. What happened to Gromit and Fi-Fi? Some of the advertisement jokes could have done with a bit more screen time. Wallace’s Thunderbirds approach still manages to make an excellent opening scene. Norbert’s jokes are very good, and the character is easily integrated into a quiet urban area with only Gromit initially raising suspicions. The oddity is that I would have thought that penguins could have survived in sewers, though it could be argued that Mcgraw would consider this to be beneath him. Fans of heritage will be happy with the finale with both steam trains and narrowboats featured in the chase. It’s a feel-good film that will appeal to all.

After Hours #ralphcourtgardens 11

The ripples in the water are close together, you could mistake them for being monogrammed. At first glance, you’d think those circles in the water were fish, but they’re too colourful. But as the garden isn’t open at night, maybe they’re not being used to their full potential. Or perhaps the gardens are used exclusively by the owners, or they’re open at night on selected days. Otherwise, their installation would be pointless. They could waltz through the grounds with large glasses dancing where appropriate, so long as someone clears up after them ready for the following day’s trade. It’s impressive enough, but there’s still no fish. Perhaps they’re located near the other animals so that they can get fed in one go and the animals don’t disturb the tranquillity of the rest of the garden. As the sun captures the light of these gardens perfectly, they must make some interesting shadows.

 

Pillow Talk #dreamdiary 192

I’m lying in bed next to a beautiful young thing. We’re lying underneath  a thick white duvet while white sheets are underneath us. She’s dressed in a cotton white sports top and pyjama shorts while I’m wearing a matching t-shirt and boxers. It’s light enough for us both to see each other. She’s petit with short black hair and small perky breasts underneath miniature teeth. There’s been a safe resting space between us while we’ve been sleeping but now that we’re both awake we curl up together. We ask each other how we slept and it turns out that we’re both happy as we’ve both had a good night’s rest. Then we begin discussing dreams. It turns out that I’ve been busy slaying zombies by stepping through the gameplay of Resident Evil 4. It turns out that she’s done the same, albeit a different scene in the game. I wander if our moment here is part of the game and that there’s a herd of zombies out there ready to attack us right outside of our little den of sheets. But then I stand up and open the curtains and it’s just a normal sun rising over a sleepy block town.

Cheers to Beer

There’s songs about last orders and nights out but beer should have its own song, just as every TV show has its theme tune. But it doesn’t mean that you can copyright it and sell it or claim royalties every time that it’s sung. It needs to be shared and told everywhere, and it should be something that everyone can join in with, if only to add their own take on the verses. There may be someone who sings it best, and there may be many versions of it depending on where you go, but there’s also a story that needs to be learned. The downside is that with all the singing, it’s distracting people from actually tasting the beer. Imagine serving and having to sing every time someone ordered one. Many people just like to say cheers and chink their glass as it’s sweeter and gets to the point.

The Original Hobgoblin #ralphcourtgardens 9

So here he is, the original hobgoblin, before he escaped from the forest and started to sell beer. We don’t know if he’s just escaped from another realm, or if he is forging for a special kind of yeast or a fish to make finnings for a barrel. Maybe this is the backyard to his home which is why a skull is there to ward off evil spirits or donogooders. But from his expression, it looks like it’s a task that he finds difficult. But he goes through this process to create a product that’s worthy for him to consume and maybe to sell to others. He might keep a barrel in his hovel entirely for himself or he could own a bar where centaurs gather every night to sing songs and bask in his activities. These late nights might just require him to take a dip the following day to clear his head.

Am I Cheating the system?

I’ve been asked to make a purchase from a company on behalf of someone. It also happens to be the company that I work at. I order the product, but after that I find out that I can get it even cheaper from another company even with my employee discount. It does seem a bit disloyal, but why pay more for exactly the same product? And I’m also passing on the savings to the person who asked me to obtain it in the first place. I’m getting some loyalty points, but perhaps not as many as I would if I’d made the purchase as instructed. But I’ve got cash in my pocket and the payee has got their goods and a bit of money back as well. I’ve made a little bit of cash, but I still need to clear it off the credit card at some point. As long as I don’t forget and I’ve the funds available to pay it off when it’s due, everyone is happy.

Birth of a God #ralphcourtgardens 8

We’ve stumbled across someone’s eureka moment. It could even be a real live action shot and the character within has been swimming in liquid gold. But when the liquid leaves the pool, it’s pure, clear and clean enough to look like crystal. It’s a precious moment. And these four have just come by to watch. Three of them are proud to witness this moment standing in his garden, though it could be a cage for their amusement. We’re not sure of the fourth one since she’s a bit short and the railing has disguised her expression. They’ve got the best view since their railings are decorated. They may even be superior to the creature contained within these four corners. I wonder if the ladies would like him to be a bit less submerged. There’s even a sign for liability purposes. I wonder if anything else is emerging or is it simply the spot where more water hits the pond?

Boy, 14, stabbed to death as five attacked in Austria

What causes someone to do this? Is it the frustration and jealousy in not being able to integrate into a society? Is it a copycat incident where they hear about this happening somewhere else and decide that it’s a good idea to copy it? It sounds a bit stereotypical that the offender has a foreign background but that’s predominantly the case. As usual the comments focus on the witnesses and what has happened. Nothing can be confirmed until the police announce their findings, which they are only happy to do once they have completed their investigation. Often they need more details, but they can only get them if they make facts public. Most people want a motive, but often this isn’t declared and the guilty party ends up sitting in court in shame while people’s lives and plans have been shattered. And it’s just getting to be more and more common.