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.
Thursday, 31 July 2025
Monday, 14 July 2025
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.
Friday, 4 July 2025
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.
Wednesday, 2 July 2025
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.