A Banging Reception #dreamdiary 228

I’ve been invited to a colleague’s wedding. She’s only joined our site this year, but she’s been with the company for a long time, and I don’t know how long she’s been engaged for. The date that she’s given me is November 5. I don’t want to say no to that date, but it’s ringing a bell for some reason. Someone else may have an event on that date that I’ve already committed to. I’m assuming that other colleagues will be invited as well as those from her previous site. It’ll be a great evening as fireworks will be set off everywhere. I’ve got no idea if they’ll have their own display at the reception or if they’ll get a good view of someone else’s display. I don’t even know where the ceremony and reception are taking place. It might not have even been booked yet. But it’ll be rude to say no to the invitation.

'It's Anarchy'. Shops looted and police cars attacked as 1.2k arrested in French protests

Give the people what they want. That’s the key thing that politicians should be doing and people are getting annoyed with them when they’re not. Obviously some policies will conflict with others but when people unite and see where their money is going and what it’s being wasted on is cause enough for them to get angry. And it’s leading them to a breaking point. I wonder if we’ll see a similar situation in our towns and cities soon. But in the meantime, you can watch the violence on the news or when you’re out and about in hospitality venues. It’s probably not great footage to show as you might be giving people ideas but you might not care about that so long as you get your viewings. Some people will try to take advantage of it for their own purposes. But in the long run, it’s going to cost society to fix this so at some point more cuts will have to be made or even more prices will have to be increased.

Just In #habberley 47

And here we have the latest in our premium sack collection. On the right is our glam product. It’s guaranteed to shine in all the places that you want them to. It’s got comfortable tubes for you to insert your legs and offers a slight warmth that captures the sun and gives your lower half a mermaid look. On the left we have the holster. This allows your legs to be hooked and hung around anything at any angle. The only limit is gravity. In the middle Is a scoop which allows anything to be placed between your legs. And at the top getting ready to slide is the ghost. It’s light and can hide your whole body if you’re a certain height. There’s also the reversible version to guarantee that you’re seen while also offering zero protection for all who are under four feet. You won’t even know it’s there.

The Aristocats

This was a classic film that I’d never seen before. It was probably revolutionary in its day. The voice talent must have been sensational, and I recognised O’Malley’s voice in other productions straight away. But I found it difficult to focus on the action when the characters seemed to burst into song. I loved the eccentric lawyer and his care-free ways. Maybe it was because how much he was able to sponge off Madame. The kittens are as cute as anything and it was good to see them act out of their social settings and adapt at such an early age. Some of the repetitive songs are very annoying. While some scenes seem unrealistic, they still seem to subscribe to the same attitudes of the Disney family. But maybe it was written for a specific market to get musicians, singers and animators to come together for a niche bit of music.

The Sack #habberley 46

I don’t know what his role is but he’s not doing a very good job. Perhaps he’s opening each sack to test them to make sure that other people can fit inside them easily. He might be selling them to fools who walk past and pay him to get to the top of the steps. This could be his last one. Or maybe he’s just looking for a place to sit and he doesn’t want to sit on the grass. I suppose he could be on his lunch break. He could have his snap stored down there. He could be curious and just wants to be by himself before committing to inserting himself. He could be making the sacks with a new kind of cotton that he converts from grass. He might be a gardener employed to do a bit of weeding and he’s pulling them up to let the good grass flourish.

Park Life

He’s a short timid man with short black hair and oval glasses with a hardened face. He hasn’t got the friendliest of expressions, which perhaps explains why his hospitality business hasn’t gone according to plan. He saves it only for his favourite customers. Everyone else gets a scorn as they haven’t been coming in as often as they should have. He’s got long and thin fingers as if they’re inevitably ready to dart out to clasp your cash to clench deep within his fists before placing them into the till. He always dresses himself in black as if he’s camouflaging himself behind the scenes or if he’s about to pop outside to complete a deep cover black ops mission. He doesn’t recognise the value of customer service and is happy to keep his customers waiting until he finishes his connection with someone else once he’s got your cash. There’s little small talk unless he can discover your intentions.

The Release #habberley 45

How did she get out? She was never meant to escape. She doesn’t look particularly happy to be out either. Maybe she had a good life inside, but she’s got to face the outside world now alongside all of her problems. So she must have been released by someone and she’s been forced to walk through. Maybe she got pushed into the exit tunnel. She might have been grateful to receive her coat again but regretted it when she realised she wouldn’t have the opportunity to wear it inside. The cold fresh air and the wind against her cheek is beginning to remind her that it’s going to be difficult for her to fins her way back again to the same prison. She’ll have to learn a new routine with a different crew. Change is never easy but sometimes we have to do it to maker ourselves better. Sometimes it’s forced on us and we must rise to the challenge.

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve; the fear of failure".

-Paulo Coelho.

There might be lots of different factors. People might even be conspiring to work against you in lots of different ways. If that’s the case, you may want to explore why they’re doing that and try to convince them otherwise. Or there might be time restraints and physics getting in the way. But the quote is about getting you to not give up and explore every opportunity to make your dream a success. There may be more than one path. You just have to find it and get over your fears before it stops you from calling yourself to action. And if you make mistakes, you need to go and fix them when you recognise them to increase your chance of success. If you can identify each thing before it happens, you can find a way to conquer it. And talking about it to others may give you a sense of what is required.

Forced by a Cage #habberley 44

This simple equipment of chicken wire and posts create one simple mission; to get from one end of the maze to the other, though it does look like they’ve just got out of a juvenile prison. At least there’s no lid, though with the narrow walls I’m wondering if some stupid kid has attempted to climb over. There’s dead ends, but there’s little room to move if you need to turn around which is a bit of a giveaway for the person behind you and it kind of ruins their experience as well since there’s no point in them following you. Instead, you get to follow them which means that your sense of discovery is ruined too. You’re also forced to communicate with explorers and hope that you can negotiate a safe passage. The result is something of a letdown and very few will want to queue again to repeat the trip unless it’s quieter.

Hanging by a Hair #titannabell 28

With every step she took, the ground shook. She was about level with the trees. She was taller than some of them and was able to see the birds startled in their nests. She pushed her breasts through the branches, snapping the occasional one and tipping the whole tree over. Flocks now began to retreat as she approached. Her young companion didn’t dare  move her arms to prevent her from sinking deeper into her apex but the whole area was becoming dripping with sweat. Penny wondered if she was aware that she was still there and whether she should make a grab for a piece of hair and wondered if she could hold on for that long. Occasionally a thick piece dangled in front of her but it might leave her dangling and she might end up falling from an even greater height. All she could really do is let her panic build up to a terrifying scream.

Clinging On #habberley 43

What is this contraption? Why is there a dead end here? Perhaps the whole thing is a viewing point over whatever’s in the pit below. Maybe we’re being swung around for a full tour. Or perhaps there was something pinned to the panel in front of us that’s crushed to the floor; either by accident because the vibrations have caused it to become loose or an attempt’s been made to pull it off. Most likely it’s a combination of the two. It might have been a mirror so we could have seen ourselves jump or it might have been a safety notice displaying the dos and dont’s of this ride. Perhaps it’s blank and we’re hiding our fear away from whatever’s causing this thing to rise up and down as we hold on with our dear lives. I’m sure that it’s not out of spite that two of us look the other way when one of us faces the camera to ruin the picture.

Why do landlords avoid renting to tenants on housing benefits if the rent is guaranteed to be paid? What are they worried about?

Crime. You’re on benefits for a reason. There may be something wrong with you. You’ve got no other income coming in. This means that if damages arise, you probably don’t have any means to pay for a repair which can escalate to other damages. Or you might engage in criminal activity to generate income but these crimes are happening on the premises. If you get arrested, how is the landlord going to get paid? You could also sell off your landlord’s appliances and disappear. Although he could claim this through insurance; it’s going to be a hassle to replace these and it could delay getting other tenants in. They’re also looking for someone long-term that they can rely on for investments rather than having to constantly seek out new tenants every time something changes. They want you to care about the property and not let a mountain of problems build up before they can’t be fixed.

The Lookout #habberley 42

Are we looking overboard for fish here? That would be very impressive as ‘re in the middle of the countryside. It could be a river or stream and the photographer could be on the other side of it. We could be on a bridge. But this is a bridge that tilts. Maybe we’re waiting for a little one to come aboard; perhaps someone who’s not too keen on playing with the big kids and is afraid that we might be rough. But we’re encouraging them to come on and join us regardless and we’ll go at their pace. We don’t want to be monsters despite our size; but we’ll encourage them to be adventurous and we’ll slowly build up their confidence. We’ll pretend that we’re on a boat and we’re afraid of the little mouse that’s just come on board. Then we’ll try to catch the mouse and we’ll chase it to the other end.

Sing a Rock Song

I’m a bit worried that this will end up like karaoke. There’s thousands of rock songs to choose from and it’s probably going to me a different one every time. There’s probably not going to be a single musical instrument and then I’ll have to try and identify it. It’ll be even more annoying if she hums. The first time I ask, a rap is produced about the tasks that she can do, complete with backing drums. The second one has a few guitar chords, but I did ask it to sing me a rock song. Maybe my definition of rock is different to everyone else’s. But this one’s full of puns as it includes tectonic plates and Geology as well. I try again and I get a third rap about Math which is a bit shorter than the others. My last attempt just gives me stone silence. Maybe she’s had enough.

Trust Fall #habberley 41

I’d be a bit worried if she was attempting a trust fall. It’s not the comfiest of surfaces to land on. The person behind needs to get into position quickly and she’s not the biggest of people to stop the fall. It’s almost an uneven surface so she might knock her target over before she gets to her. But the faith has already been put into place. Hopefully a witness can tell her to abort the mission before it’s too late. Let’s hope that she’s up to something a lot less alarming. Perhaps someone is coming back towards her from the other side of the bridge as a prank to force her back into the water. It could be a threat of the tickles. Or maybe she’s just trying to keep her balance while someone else is jumping up and down. Maybe she’s backing up deliberately to stop her sister from crossing the bridge at full speed. 

Cornwall QI #dreamdiary 227

Me and my Uncle have come down for a look around Port Issac. Cornwall has been invaded by an influx of hipsters lately in that people are posting graffiti around the villages with QR codes which takes people to harmful or malicious websites when they scan it with a mobile phone. As we park in the village, a purple double-decker bus drives past which wouldn’t be out of place in a scene from Harry Potter. The driver gets out and warns us of the dangers of taking photos of the images as smartphones are quick to detect the link held within, and unsuspecting people believe that they’ve found a secret hidden ‘Easter Egg’ which takes them to a website to find out more about the artist. Fortunately, I’ve got common sense, but a lot of people have been swindled. I leave my Uncle there and head to the Welsh border for a swim.

The Drunken Sailor

From the outside, you can see that they’ve put a lot of effort into the place. Its building is sheltered enough to be away from bad weather but close enough to the centre, local hotels and main routes to be noticed. Its roof is built to look like the outside of a ship. You might think that that’s a balcony overlooking the stage but that room is reserved for something else. There’s a few outside tables for street seating and inside there’s high stools with burning coal tables and large heaters. Then there’s a main bar inside with a central stage and seating to the side with a pool table to keep the locals happy. Drinks are reasonable; the cocktails are a bit dear but you get strong measures with all the trimmings. The wait staff aren’t keen to keep tabs; maybe because they don’t keep track of people when the show starts. They pride on getting the numbers in.

Booting Up #habberley 40

 Here comes the mystery man. We know not what he looks like (well, we do if we look at the previous photos). It’s a pull-away snap. It’s one of those that you don’t aim to take but you do it anyway. Maybe you’re startled as your finger hovers over the button. Something’s happened that you haven’t anticipated. Or maybe you haven’t quite got the shot lined up correctly. You’ve been focused on what’s happening in front of you rather than what’s on the screen. Or it might be your posture when you’re filming. There might be a more technical term for that. Something’s happened that’s forced you to change your position. Or your whole devotion could be to the boot that’s in front of you. The next one could be a close-up of the laces. It’s to demonstrate their grip and reliability when in action. It’s a shame that there’s no balance pose and that the model is holding onto the chains for his dear life.

@untappd: Pop Quiz: Can you guess how many toasts our community have registered in 2024 so far? Over 66 MILLLION times!

That’s a lot. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that we all drank that many beers. It’s all about the likes. Someone could toast someone a hundred times without cracking a single can or posting anything. Or it could be doubled if they all reciprocated. But you don’t have to use the app to do that anyway. You might be a marketer and just want the info. But it would be impressive if just one post got a million likes. Imagine the awareness you could get. You’d be very famous. Think of how many loaves you’ll have gotten through, and all the grills, toasters, butters, knives and plates that have been used. It’s probably the wrong utensils and you’ll probably want to measure the amount of beer consumed in pints; barrels and hectolitres (whatever they are). But maybe the slices were given out alongside the goblets when the ancient romans raised their glasses. There may be a few cracked ones out there.

Chain Reaction #habberley 39

It’s time for me to test the waters before someone else falls in. They might have already fell through a hole. The person who has just fell through could have been a mortal enemy of mine. I might even be gloating at their demise. And now they’re gone alongside some of my problems. It’s going to make things a lot easier. It might not look like a nice thing if I’ve inherited their power and influence. I can get other things done without worrying now that they’re out of the picture. The chains have released me from my bind. A lighter weight has fallen from my shoulders. Victory is mine. Others may not think much of this, but they might not comprehend the predicament that I was in before. If they can sense my release, relief and happiness they may be willing to offer me some help and that I’d be more reactive to change in general. And people behind me might be about to do the same thing.

Norwegian Teenage Hitman who flew to UK to commit murder is jailed.

Did you think that it would be that easy? Maybe he didn’t know that intelligence was already onto him. Or perhaps he’d had a reputation of completing other jobs. That’s your problem. You just don’t know who to trust. At least the Met are doing their job properly for a change. It’s a shame that his target hasn’t been revealed. Yet his family have no shame. Is this what they want? They need to get real. If he’s claiming to be a victim of trafficking, why did he get on a plane? Clearly he knew what was expected of him before he started his journey. What we don’t know was how he was exposed. Maybe the police had someone watching the stolen cache. Or maybe he gave up before he was caught to get a lighter sentence. Hopefully this idiot will think again before committing to a gangster life. But there’s no way that he should be let back home.

Fear or Fun? #habberley 38

There’s chuckles all around. Am I acting like a great big girl or an old woman to get laughs out of them or am I genuinely getting soaked? The little ones love to take revenge on those in authority. It doesn’t look like I’m doing a Tarzan call, especially with my arms by my side. I may be taking the mick out of them rather than acting in genuine fear. It would be a bit terrifying for them if I was. I might be scaring off the local wildlife or those around me. Or it might encourage others to come to my aid. They might not have what I need like a warm place to dry off and refresh me; but they may be able to find someone who can give me advice or point me in the right direction. The other thing that they could do is prise me off or misdirect me so that they can get rid of me and can have a go.

The Game

I presume we’re in a stadium. At some games like tennis or snooker you’re not allowed to talk. You might get away with a whisper in the ear of the person sitting next to you. The biggest comments will be about what’s in front of you. You might spot a tactical advantage that the players don’t. you might predict what ill happen next or who will come onto the field. You might talk about your immediate needs like food, drink or relief. You’re hardly going to do any planning conversations and gossip or entertainment unless the action has reached a particularly drab moment. You might compare it to other games that you’ve been to or have questions about the rules, especially if this is your first attendance. Then there’s the games that you play yourselves. What mind games might you use to your advantage? Will you help or hinder other people’s experiences?

Victory! #habberley 37

It’s a victory wave. It’s a celebration that she’s made it through without getting wet. She could have beaten her personal best, or she might be calming her nerves. Or it could be an attempt to exit the bridge in haste while keeping balance. It’s a bit blurred but beyond the picture she might be reaching for an overhead rope or branch for support. It would be good fun if the tree emitted a source of alarm; even if it’s only in pain, though it wouldn’t be good for the tree. It would be good fun if she dropped something on the bridge so that we could make her go back for it so that we could get her wet some more. Perhaps there’s an outstretched hand coming towards her to help her to the other side. Has she crossed blindly? Maybe she’s shielding her eyes from the sun. Or she could be looking for someone to give her a high five.

Toy Story 5

I was so looking forward to this but it turned out to be a bit of a flop. I was hoping for a bunch of the latest characters and a bit of slapstick action alongside memories of previous encounters; but the only experiences of these were from characters that used to deliver punchline jokes. I was disappointed that the action had carried on from where it left off and no-one had seemed to make any progress. I also thought that the two humans that they were trying to unite had a major age difference. Each group of characters seemed to spend their time rescuing each other only for the other party to do the same a few scenes later. I also couldn’t see the method defeating the madness and felt that the antagonist needed to be a bit more evil. It’s a shame that Pizza Planet wasn’t featured, and it would have been more fun if there were more tie-ins from other Disney franchises.

Risk Assessment #habberley 36

 It’s a cautious approach. Both hands are on the rails. She’s done the most challenging section of all; climbing to the top. Then there’s the next bit. The next bunch of steps don’t look as stable. She’s also at the highest point and it’s a long way down. There’s no-one to stop her from falling but it’s also going to be difficult to do that. Perhaps a quick check to make sure that help is nearby if she needs it and also a thought as to what she can do to avoid the risk of getting hurt.  But she has to make it a fun experience as well.  She wants to be seen as being brave and trying new things. You’ve got to balance it right by taking the time to make sure that you’re safe without relying on the people behind you. But if you don’t do it, it’s going to make things harder for you later.

Give a Nicol

He’s tall and blonde with round glasses. He likes his thick casual clothes with hoodies. He likes his hair long with sharp edges and curls on the top. Occasionally he’ll grow it long it long enough to turn it into a ponytail. Then there’s the long shorts or the tracksuit bottoms whatever the weather. He likes to feel wrapped up even in the summer. He’s not an outdoors person. He likes to experiment with goatees and beards. His hobbies are vast. He just likes to blend with whatever’s popular. He’s quite slow and quiet when it comes to talking but he always has a lot to say and pretends to know about everything. But sometimes you’re just exploring and finding out everything about yourself at that age. Sometimes it’s annoying and it doesn’t add value to your time. It’s attention seeking in a way, especially when you don’t come up with the goods.

Testing Grounds #habberley 35

I’m just trying to cross the bridge. I must be doing it like a pro since I’ve only got one hand on the rail. I’m quite high up though. Maybe we wanted to see how much weight the bridge could handle. The top of the chain is quite taunt and rusty. It could snap under the pressure and I could ruin everyone’s adventure. Or someone just wanted me to cross so that I could have my picture taken. I could be demonstrating how easy to cross it is to people. Or maybe I’m trying to get over a phobia. It looks a little slippery; possibly because it’s been sprayed. There may be thorns below or a very muddy demise awaiting me. I might even be about to be pushed by branches stretching out towards me. I don’t think that my fleece jacket can help me here, even if I try to use it as a parachute, though it may soften my fall. 

 

"Out of a Mountain of Despair is a Stone of Hope"

-Martin Luther King Jr.

When you compare a stone to a mountain, it’s not much to go on. But at least you can pick it up and cling onto it. It might be the only thing that keeps you going. Looking at the mountain suggests that you could be crushed in the process. But hope has come out of the mountain, however small it may be. There’s still a chance. All you need to do is keep chipping away at the rest of it and it too will eventually become a stone. It’s important to break down your worries into manageable steps. That is how you will solve them. It’s going to be difficult to take the stone to the top of the mountain and place it on top. But then again, it could take longer to chisel through the mountain. Or you could take the stone with you and take your battles elsewhere.

Don't look back in Anticipation #habberley 34

She’s looking back in anticipation. Perhaps a few words are exchanged. Am I going to press on the step? Is she going to distract me so that she can get across without me spraying her? Or is she waiting for the spray to come through so that she can shield herself and dart across afterwards? Maybe I’ve swung the tree branch and it’s just about to hit her in the face. But I wouldn’t do a thing like that to her. It’s a sunny day so maybe she wants a good squirt to keep her cool after all that moving around. It’s amazing how quickly sweat can build up sometimes; especially on your back when you’re wearing big coats. At least we’re in the fresh air so the smell won’t be noticeable until we get back in the car. Hopefully the hose will wash off any mud on the coats as well.

Follow the Water #nuclearmermaid 28

She wondered if she could go under. Essentially, she was in a cave without water. The ground could be dry until eventually water started to trickle in. she had no idea how far she would have to dig or for how long. But water would lead her to more water eventually. It would also help to soften the materials around her. She saw the hard tubes in the ceiling and wondered if the bipeds had redirected it around the cane and if she could force it to come out. They might even have a place where it was stored or controlled. She needed to start small. There were pipes in the box where the bipeds had tried to attack her. They looked thin. If she could follow them or pull them off the wall, then it might give her a good indication of where to go. As she entered, her huge breasts pressed against the pedestal and it tilted slightly. If she could move it, she could get to the pipes.

If you call a hotel at 8pm they have vacant rooms what if you offer them half price to stay? Will some of them ?

Probably. Don’t expect the big chains with minimum staff to do it. They’ve got their set prices and a full board rate will help to subsidise some of their less popular locations. But some of the little guys might help you out but you might have to throw something in as part of the deal though. Everyone’s struggling but it’s worth giving it a go. Some of them might do if you pay cash and it’s off the books; especially if they hate their boss. They might impose some restrictions on you as well by asking you to vacate earlier than usual. And they’ve still got to pay someone to clean up after you; unless they’re planning to do it themselves. It’s also a judge of character on their part. You can expect to be turned away so don’t get too aggressive; especially if you still need a room regardless.

The Hair-Raising Bridge #habberley 33

That hair is growing. It’s getting heavier. It’s like it’s going to crawl out of her head and attach itself to the bridge. No-one’s clocked onto the fact yet that she is in danger. Sunlight could make it grow, and she’s been exposed to a lot of it. Or maybe it reacts to water. Or it could be the cold since she’s been bathing in sunshine a lot and it’s come out to defend itself. She’ll have to force herself back out into the sunshine to keep herself safe, but she can’t if it’s holding her back. We can’t tell if it’s spouting out of the back or if that’s a bit of fur that’s part of her coat hood. It might be the tree syncing the colour with the hair which explains why it’s glowing. It might even be the psychic power of the person standing behind her. His hair is also beginning to stick up.

Bagged #dreamdiary 226

I’ve been out for a day in London with my brother and his family. We’re on the underground heading back to the mainline to catch our return train home. As we leave the underground train, I realise that I’ve left my backpack on the carriage and bolt back to retrieve it. I make it back to my bag, but the doors close and the train starts leaving the station. I call my brother and tell him what’s happened and that I’ll get off at the next station and change trains to come back again and hopefully I’ll make it back before our mainline train departs. That’s easier said than done. I get off the underground with twenty minutes to spare but I’ve still got to change trains to come back. The route to the other side of the platform seems to take me outside the station. It’s snowing and I’m struggling to walk without slipping. I make it to the ticket barricade which is manned by a small boy. As I struggle to find my credit card, a teenage girl pushes in front of me.

Tipping Point #habberley 32

Perhaps there’s more to it than just a squirt of water. It’s a wobbly bridge after all. But what makes it wobble? Is it the people jumping up and down on the top? Or is it disturbed by something underneath? The huge pipe could be a source of pneumatic air to give it a kick. Time it wrong and you could be catapulted into the air. It’s all part of the owner’s plan  to keep people from crossing their bridge, though in this case they’re inviting people to try it. The question is whether you feel lucky enough to risk it. You’ll hear a hiss followed by a huge thwack beneath you. If you retreat quickly enough, you might be able to get to the safety of the stairwell or even dash across the other side without tripping. But a barrier could be activated to prevent you from doing so.

Instant Ink

I was initially against this from the start. You’d get charged regardless of whether or not you print, and it could work out to be expensive. But everything on the screen encourages me to sign up, and I get the first three months free. The next thing I know, I get an email telling me that my new cartridges are being despatched, even though I’ve barely used the ink that’s come supplied with my printer. The three free months have past and I’m now being charged, but I don’t mind as I haven’t paid for the cartridges that I’ve used. Fast forward five months later, and I’ve just installed the new cartridges. I haven’t got any instant cartridges ready in case my current ones run out. Do I cancel the plan and go back to shop ones? Will I get a hundred emails inviting me back if I do? I’ll have to sit down and work out the cost.

Bridge Battle #habberley 31

 This was the moment before Princess Peach got sucked down through the hosepipe into computer game land. It starts as a drip then it forms into a downpour followed by a tornado as you’re forced to follow the direction of the water. Or the hose could wrap itself around her leg to drag her deep underground. A second one is already lined up to target the person behind. Will they go down together or will the second person get a moment to react? Will they reach forward to try to help the first person unaware that they are to share a similar fate? Or will they attempt to save themselves by just backing off and running away? They might have even broke an arm off the banister in an effort to defend themselves. Meanwhile, one of the trees has decided to join in on the action by giving her a good whacking.

Time to close some roads I think. We need the space for the people.

Motorists don’t like road closures. They have to follow diversions. Satnavs don’t help as half of the time they don’t recognise the fact that the road’s closed and they’ll try to get you to turn around or take the next road to allow you to do so. Delivery drivers will be even more confused. Pedestrians and bikers love it though. They can parade around without fear of being beeped at; sworn at or knocked over. Some will appreciate the extra space and will be able to spread out. Sometimes not even the locals will know why it is closed and what’s going on. They might have scrolled past it on social media but it hasn’t sunk in. but it might et them from A to B a little bit quicker. And the people who get to put the barriers up to stop traffic coming through get to be a little bit important as well.

Hair Loss #habberley 30

Someone needs a haircut. It’s terrible on the top and all the sides just sticks out. It looks like I’m a crazy lab assistant who’s recovering from a round of chemo. What was I thinking? Hopefully it was a very windy day so I would be able to get away with it at the time. That would explain why I’m carrying a fleece while the others are wearing large coats. Hopefully everyone else is in the same boat. There’s some very open-top areas with winds rushing over the ridges. But it looks like I’m not used to the outside world, especially with that ensemble that I’m wearing. I’m clearly hoping to shelter somewhere warm after this excursion, probably nursing something while standing up. There could be a possibility that I’ve already gone through across the bridge and have gotten wet first. But why am I carrying my coat around for a second time?

Burnham ignited a massive political battle -Beth Rigby unpicks Prime Minister's Speech

So our new fearless leader has just given a big speech. No doubt there’s something in it about pensions and looking after our elderly. But with the price of fuel rising, where is the cash going to come from? The year 2030 has been mentioned; should we be prepared for an expensive year of tax hikes? And that’s assuming that the current administration will still be in power. The ‘not the usual perspective on politics’ is fair enough. The man has just recently lost his father. But there’ll come a time when the government will need to be seen acting to protect society rather than continue to give out handouts.  I wonder where the ‘rocket’ is being stowed. Past policies are being undone. And that creates help for the people now but not necessarily in the future. People will question it but they won’t want to challenge it for fear of becoming unpopular. But at least he looks human in his appearances.

Snapped #habberley 29

How long will it hold for? There’s got to be hundreds of kids riding this thing every day. Hopefully the owners test it each day before they open the park and walk round to inspect everything regularly. Safety must be prioritised over fun, otherwise it could become a costly business. That smile could vanish in a moment. Her enjoyment of the whole day could vanish too, and she might not want any reminders of what she’s been up to either. It could take a windy day and a tree branch  to fall onto the equipment as well. You can’t depend on the trees to support your infrastructure forever. It looks like her shadow is swinging off her foot to try and pull her off. Or it could be trying to snap off a tree branch or make a crack in the ground. Hope she’s aware that it’s not just gravity working against her here.

What's the joke of the day?

So is this going to be a topical twister of the day or a simple pun? Will it be a clean long tale to understand and chuckle at and will it allow for my tastes? And will it be the same joke every time for the remainder of the day? I hope not. With the first joke, I’m not sure if it’s kidding or not. It tells me to drink a gallon of water at night to make me get up earlier in the morning. Some people will do that anyway as they come home from the pub. There’s a good chance of me getting up earlier in the night then returning to sleep afterwards. I might not even make it to the bathroom. Of course, Alexa won’t be bothered by that because she wants me to use her to order more sheets. There’s no punchline or musical sound effects either.

Hoo-ray Up She Rises #habberley 28

Dealing with children is a little bit like dealing with drunks. They prise on happiness, and it often overcomes them. Take it way and they get upset very easily. But their mood is easier to change than an adult’s. is it because they forget things too easily? You want to allow them time to enjoy things, but you also want them to move on and discover other experiences. They may not want this and will object as much as they can. You may give them an opportunity to come back later, even though it may be a false promise. If they’re not enjoying it, you’ve also got to make them try it for a bit. You’ve also got to look out for signs of boredom and give them the option to leave if they want to. And when they’re down, you’ve got to try and pick them up again. It’s all part of being a parent.

The Church

It depends upon what you came here for. Most people visit to listen to a service. You won’t overhear many topics of conversation in the long term other than what’s said in the sermon. Anything else would just be considered as rude. Get there early enough and you’ll see the regulars outside greeting each other and asking how’s their week’s been or even inside, hanging over the pews, shaking hands and sharing family news. They might seek each other out for a chat or an invite to take place after the sermon and they want to establish where individuals are sitting. It’s also an opportunity to account for people in the community by working out who’s away, who’s ill and who is missing. Outside the sermon, you’ve got the visitors who talk in hushed whispers so as not to try and disturb the solitude. They might circle back to each other to make sure that no-one’s missed a key part in the community’s history. Usually there’ll be a war memorial but occasionally there’s another local tragedy to commemorate. You might not discuss it in detail until you’re safely outside.

Sweet Swinging #habberley 27

She’s just enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the glide. There’s no effort to be had any more. It’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy things. The hard work of seeking out the seat, mounting it, and getting it to move has all been achieved. There’s a sense of grace and royalty as she glides around, bemused by the effort required. Or maybe she's pondering what's beneath the hill. Are the panels there for her safety? Or are they covering something up? Perhaps there's a giant pole underneath that will raise her higher. Maybe it will activate if she pulls the rope above her. Maybe she's comfortable with things are and she doesn't want this to happen. Maybe the children behind her are waiting to coordinate with her so that this can happen. They'd like to see her get off so that they can go higher. Let the negotiations begin.

Motherland

This was a fun yet sadistic little series. I love the fact that each character had their own outlook yet is forced to conform to come together for a shared goal but somehow manages to make themselves the ultimate bitch while the children suffer in silence in the process. There’s a little bit of sympathy towards what mothers have to go through and perhaps they weren’t ready to have children and then they happened. It would have been more interesting to focus on a prequel rather than a sequel based on the most selfish characters that I can’t stand. I would have liked to witness Julia go through a divorce at some point but the conclusion was very emotional and should be something that we all dread and should be something that we all dread. Each series seemed short and I would have liked to have seen more mishaps But there are some real heart of community scenes.

Christed Up

It all depends on how dedicated you are to the cause. Is it a day job or are you genuinely interested? Or are you just volunteering for the role because no-one else has come forward? It’s a shame to let traditions die but it might have to be the way if you can’t get the support you need. More importantly, you need to enjoy doing it. Even if you want to get rid of the position, you need to stay positive to convince others that it’s worth doing. You might never ever hear from them again, but if you provide a positive experience and their inquiry is easy to deal with, they’re more likely to help you out next time. If you get into an argument, it might put the final nail in your coffin and force you to leave whatever the consequences may be. Then the organisation will be in the shit but at least you can justify your reasons.

Drifting #habberley 26

Do we give in and give them a push or do we let them do the hard work? Ideally, we’d lie them to figure it out for themselves. We want them to be independent but at the same time we don’t want them to drift through life. We have to drop clues from time to time. We also want them to enjoy the experience without being fearful. We want them to be in control; though we’re still there to keep an eye on them just in case. But we can also take a step back and relax; though we can step in if they get scared or we think that they’re being too dangerous. They’re enjoying their time but someone could step in at any moment and cause a hazard. They also look ridiculously small compared to the size of the thing. Maybe that’s why she’s clinging on. She looks secure though.

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."

-Oscar Wilde.

It’s important to stay unique. Copying the work or mantra of others might help you to develop skills; but to copy someone else completely is just going to devalue both yourself and them. It would be great if you could completely impersonate them without being discovered. If you’re looking for someone specific; the world is full so you may just have to copy yourself. But you have to get to know yourself first. But it’s quite a factual statement. How do you know for sure? Will there be a battle to see who is the best? Probably. You may struggle to find your uniqueness in the process. And it’s important that you don’t lose yourself or forget about your past. And it’s also important that you don’t worship others who try to follow the same path. There may be too many for you to get into that game. It’s better that you create your own.

Powering the County #habberley 25

These things seem like massive scales but they’re really good fun. The view over the hillside is excellent too. If you time it right, you might be able to make out the smoke of the local heritage railway. But you’ve got to put the effort in to have a good ride while having a partner that will work with you to yank the chain at the right time. This little one seems exhausted to try to get the thing started but she’s determined to give it a try. The young could be powering the country this way in the future. They might be powering some of the country right now by having a turbine hidden deep underneath the hill. Rural communities might have to rely on this sort of power so that its traditional infrastructure isn’t dug up. Either that or it’s an interesting way to weigh kids without their knowledge.

Unstoppable Force #empress 28

Meanwhile, the empress was taking great pleasure in her new size. She was constantly looking for ways for her subjects to please and amuse her. If they wouldn’t, they would be sacrificed for food; either as a sacrifice themselves or put to work farming nearby fields. Soldiers would just create labour camps across the lands that she trod on. Anyone who wouldn’t comply would be killed and cooked. There seemed to be no shortage of people, as they’d always get excited when they saw the royal banner though these days they were likely to see their empress first. It would give them reassurance after the monstrosity. No-one would be spared. The generals thought it be best to steer the empress to their borders where she could confidently destroy the enemy populaces. But getting control and persuading her would be quite a feat. Perhaps they could train a team to please her while heading in the right direction.

Natural or Man-made?

Once again, the land of blanks has conjured up another rubbish image. This could be the inside of my jacket pocket. It’s amazing how nothing is the same when you get up close and personal and zoom in on it. It would be nice to think that this is some kind of forest. Maybe I just need a new phone. Perhaps you can make out an island or two amongst a sea of oceans. Or maybe I’ve dropped my phone into a puddle. It could even be algae or some kind of fauna growing in a pond. Or it could simply be the grass at night. The different shades could reflect different amounts of moisture or angles of the blades of grass. I almost thought that I could make out a face but the screen may need cleaning. There is something creating layers and steps on the centre left. It could be a gateway to another world.

Taking the Telly #dreamdiary 225

I’m desperate to watch TV. It seems to be an addiction. I seem to be breaking into people’s houses to do it. I’m supposed to be delivering newspapers but I’m learning peoples’ habits as I travel. When I know that a house is unoccupied, I can either snap the door handle to gain access to the lock or kick the door in. If someone comes, I just move onto the next home. I wonder if I can get through an entire program before someone discovers me. If I had somewhere to stay, I could just take the TV with me, but I seem to be homeless. If I could find an outlet somewhere that I know that I’m not going to be interrupted then I’ll be happy. In the meantime, I’m just wondering around looking for the next house with people leaving their doorstep. Sometimes I pass houses that I’ve already been inside and there’s a police car outside and people are taking photographs.

Face or Head?

It’s hard to know which is which, but it’s probably more likely to be the hand. It doesn’t matter if it’s a selfie or not. There’s not many instances where you have your phone pressed against your face; unless you’re taking a call while the camera’s still running. Or you might have zoomed in on someone else’s face. There’s not much else it can be other than skin. But how has this occurred? The shutter has been pressed in a quick attempt to return the phone to the pocket. There’s no marks or scars and the smooth colour suggests that it’s someone quite young. Maybe they stuck their hand out to attempt to stop the picture from being taken and to cover up the lens. Or I could have just dropped the phone in a patch of soil. If it wasn’t for the photos that preceded or followed this picture, I might have mistook it for another time and place.

Can I legally unplug or remove anything my neighbour has plugged into my outdoor outlet without getting into trouble?

 For god’s sake, grow a spine! They’re stealing your property. Are you going to let them enter your house and eat your food next? So long as you’re sure that you’re the bill payer and it’s your property; it’s yours to do with as you wish regardless of the situation. Even if it’s a life-threatening situation, you still have the right to unplug and they should have probably told you beforehand. But it’s very rare that this is the case. You might want to see if your neighbour has any problems with their supply first just to be on the safe side. Otherwise, go ahead and remove the cord and place it back on their property. If they complain, ask why it’s there in the first place. Make it clear that this isn’t OK. If they’ve asked your permission, or you already have an agreement in place, you’ll need to let them know the reason that you’ve changed your mind first.

The Flexibility Method #habberley 24

Maybe she’s happy to be outside, but something’s caught her eye that’s made her grin. Is it something’s that the photographer’s done or is it the goats in the paddock beyond? It looks like they’ve got their own playground set up or at least a see-saw. Is it just for them to play on or is someone training them as part of a circus act? It could be a new petting zoo feature or a whole show; either on-site or filming them elsewhere where they’ll perform a stunt for a bit of food. I’ve always wondered if those animals sometimes get overfed. Maybe the famers have to switch them around. But if the pen’s on a hill, wouldn’t it be easy for them to do a trot or a jump and a skip to jump over? Maybe they like their home too much or they’ve worked out that they can jump back in again if they need to.

The Big Cheese

The rat is back! At least we think he is; although it could be a different he or she. We think it’s because next door has put a bird feeder up after their bare basic garden renovation and he’s come into our garden afterwards for a bit more of the natural life. He’ll have a wander around and he’ll go for a dip in the pond until we tap the windows to scare him off. But we don’t want him here spreading his germs in the first place. In come the poison rocks. They’re easy to install; though they’re more like pods rather than the blocks that we usually get which don’t seem to be available any more. The whole box comes with a pair of disposable plastic gloves but I’m not sure if you’re supposed to pierce the pouch, though it’s the only way to mount it in the trap.

Hold on Tight #habberley 23

Get your leg over! That’s what we want to shout. It’s probably not appropriate for someone her age; but then again it is literal and practical advice. The little one is waiting patiently but it would be so easy to give her a little push and she’ll slide off onto the floor. She might be on the way out anyway. A little hand might be coming out to help her by grabbing to steady her fall. The trouble is that she might be blamed for pushing her if she’s even touched as it’s unexpected. She could also be accused of being unsisterly by not helping out. She could cheer her or taunt her but then she could be accused of putting her off. She could also  try to get revenge by doing the same to her and recreate what she thinks might be the same conditions. It’s all part of spending too much time together and they need to learn boundaries.

CAMRA has revealed new data which shows that dozens of much loved pubs have burned down in the past 10 years. CAMRA believes destroying a pub should be a criminal offence, and we want to see councils produce local enforcement plans to set out clear deterrents.

Wouldn’t burning a building down count as arson which would be a crime anyway? I suppose it wouldn’t count if you deliberately burnt your own property and just want to dispose of it to sell the land or rebuild something on it without declaring it a crime afterwards for insurance purposes. It’s all a matter of cost; though it may be a terrible waste of resources and the rubble wouldn’t do your public image any good. But this law is effectively talking about transfer of ownership. This is why so many owners are willing to market their premises as a restaurant so it seems that there’s a change of use before it’s disposed of. It’s a difficult decision as you could be seen to stand in the way of progress and it must be something that would benefit everybody. No-one wants to be left with an eyesore. So, will councils end up buying these to create community projects? It’s going to be a difficult one to solve.

The Tube #habberley 22

Who needs YouTube when you’re on the tube? Although I suppose that you could end up on YouTube after an attempt on this tube as your fail is recorded. As well as climbing over it, you could also attempt to crawl through it or even beneath it for a full commando challenge. Of course, someone will want to attempt it while someone else is on top of them which should cause them to lose their balance. Someone could also become stuck underneath They might need some help to pull them out. Pushing will only make it worse and more painful but it might be the only solution. And that’s after the fact that you could be boxed in from either side. It’s going to get hot very quickly in there, and you could start to lose oxygen too. At least there’s no sharp bits; although you could get grazed as you come out over the edges.

Sing Me a Song

It’s going to be a bit boring with no backing music. She might try and seek some out though. But I think I’d have preferred it if she played a song at random. I hope that there’s a large database. She might even ask me questions on what I want the song to be about. The first song is about dogs, and there’s a military accompanist tune with it. There’s quite a few verses, and it’s very creative. The next song just gets on my nerves but there’s only one verse and no musical accompanist. After that I’m treated to another music less number which has lots of verses. At first I’m thinking it’s just going to be the lyrics to a pop song, but then it’s more of a nursery rhyme. The next one is short and sweet and it’s about friendship, and it’s a proper musical number. I wonder how many of these there are.

'Run you fools, you will die'; Meet the unit of Russian defectors fighting for Ukraine

It sounds like a line out of a movie. But who’s saying it? Is it a threat to kill them if they run away? Is it a group of people volunteering to commit treason against their military? Perhaps they could take control of the military as well if they have enough resources, or fund their own country. But they’ve actually left home. They might not be allowed to return if their identity is discovered, and they’ll have to prove where they’ve been and what they’ve up to during this time. But if they operate from the other side, it makes things easier for them. Some of them have even served on the other side before defecting, recognising the evil that’s occurring. But fighting back this way may not give the home side much persuasion to follow suit. It might be more humane to rescue the injured Ukrainians which will steer you out of trouble.

Dominion #henley 3

Turning left, we continued through the housing estate then turned right onto Riverside Gardens which is a cul-de-sac. We followed the path around the bend until it faced north then on the left-hand side a concrete footpath emerged between the houses and some woodland. This footpath bore southwest to cross a stream to lead to another road, then we turned right to head north onto another footpath. This took us along the river for a short while, then at the junction we turned left to head west back into the car park. We saw quite a few sights on this walk, but this church was the most impressive building. It must have had quite a bit of influence in its day with its long wall built across the field to display its domain. I wonder if these rent agreements still apply, or if the church chose to sell them off for a big lump sum. Bet it wishes it didn’t now.

Dear Evan Hansen

This was a captivating film and I wanted to see if it would end in tragedy or success. Some of the songs are quite catchy, but some of them need a bit of work, and it would have been nice to have a bit of realism thrown in there as a reaction; i.e. why has this person suddenly decided to break into song in this situation? It would have been good to have seen a therapy session as well, perhaps at the beginning. It might have been more relevant if they had addressed COVID since that was occurring during its filming. But it does demonstrate how people are trying to cope with things. The video is quite inspirational. And it’s great to see a woman of strength assist Evan, despite what he may throw at her. It’s also a story of pride. It’s also interesting to see how people react to the lie.

Go West Young Lamb #henley 2

Heading west, we crossed through a wood to reach a stile at the end, then climbed a hill in a north-westerly direction. Just before we reached another stile, we turned left and headed directly west which brought us out onto the road. Turning left, we followed the road around the bend until it turned directly south, then turned right into the church car park. After passing the church, we continued west and crossed a stile to follow the path downhill towards the road. We passed through the kissing gate and walked directly through the gate opposite to pass through a farm. Continuing west, we crossed eleven stiles along a ridge until we descended onto a road. A short turn right found our next stile on the left, which brought us onto a descent to a road. Turning left, we walked back through suburbia to a T-junction, where we turned right followed by the first left.

 

The Playground

It’s hard to envision what’s going on sometimes. The focus is to play on the next piece of equipment. They’re constantly on the move and don’t like to wait. Sometimes they want to seek out the attention of a parent our sibling to demonstrate what they’ve learnt, especially when they’re trying something new. If there’s a friend or sibling with them, they’ll taker the time to compete or organise a game or create some rules. Sometimes they’ll cry out to their guardian for help if there’s something that upsets them or stops them from what they’re trying to achieve, or if it’s something that they don’t understand. They’ll want to keep an eye out or know where to go to get help. Sometimes they’ll be followed around by a responsible person. They may happily chat back at you. Others are solely focused on the new experience in front of them. Some kids will get bossy and will lay down rules.

The Hills of Henley #henley 1

Leaving the car park at the north, we turned right onto a footpath that curved south past a children’s playground. As it joined the road, we followed it south until it reached another road. Crossing it, we turned left and headed east past the school until we came to a gate just past the last house. Entering the field, we headed south and crossed over the stile into a ploughed field, and after passing the farm buildings on our right, the path bore south-east and began to cut through another field. The path followed the river around a meander until it reached another stile, then shortly afterwards we bore east to cross another stile to reach a road. Heading south, the road crossed the river then we turned left to follow the road over to the canal. Turning left onto the towpath, we followed the canal underneath the main road, and passed under another bridge before reaching a third.

By George

He’s tall and thin, and has a smile on his face. He knows how to greet people. He has thin wispy hair and a classic handlebar moustache alongside a large nose and stick-out ears. He has a small build with a bit of a bulge on his belly. He always aims to dress smart with the simplest of clothes, even when at home. He’ll always wear some kind of shirt; either a formal one or a polo shirt. He’ll take care in his appearance to  be well-groomed with the shiniest of shoes or the whitest of trainers. He listens very intently to people’s answers, and isn’t afraid to ask questions, although he does do it to insist that he does not mean to offend. He’s actually very intelligent, although he doesn’t like to show it, especially with a deep, loud and slow black country accent. He’s rather surprise people with what he can do.

Screening out for Change

It’s that time of day to log on and chat nonsense. We can talk about our worries or just muck about with what’s in front of us. Not much may have happened but we want to analyse everyone’s movements. It’s also good to hear that everyone is doing OK, and to see about getting people help and advice if they need it. But there’s not much that we can do if we don’t know about it. We also make plans based on the assumption that nothing is going to change in the near future. It’s odd that some of us have decided to use a company’s logo as an avatar when we’re not representing that company. I don’t think that the company would be very impressed. But we didn’t get too many invites to other people’s parties which probably said a lot about ourselves. We should really take the time for some self-improvement.

Change the Rules

-The Doctor,

Sometimes things just don’t work out. You’ve found a clause that others can take advantage to get their way and you’re not sure how things should work out. Someone is taking advantage and it doesn’t seem fair. If you want to stop that from happening again, something needs to change. If you just go and break them, you could get into trouble, even though the person in front of you may have gotten away with it. Sometimes it’s easier said than done and you’re going to need others to help you. That means making sure that they see things the same way that you do. You’ve also got to make sure that they’re going to be applied to everyone. Leaders pay attention to the most voices. Or, failing that, become one. And once you’ve got the policy set up, you’ve got to watch people who will try to overturn your decision.

NHS No

What would we do without the humble post-it note? It’s the gateway of computer passwords and there are probably millions of them stuck to screens and monitors. This one is to make a record of who I am which I probably won’t need when I get there. They’re more interested in my address and my date of birth rather than my number; so that they can direct someone to my house as soon as possible. It’s not a place that I visit regularly, and hopefully I won’t be doing the same in the future. It’s a makeshift place at the end of an industrial estate and there’s lots of parking and people on hand to direct me. I have to wait in a long line outside, but it’s only long because we all have to keep our distance. Inside, we all loop round to a person with a clipboard until we’re allocated a cubicle.

Crack on a Crack #devilsdaughter 28

Dust drifted down from the rafters. Realising how fragile the building was, she realised that she had a good chance of knocking the wall down. She didn’t want to touch the window, but if she placed all of her weight on the wall in one go, it had a chance of falling apart. The safest way was putting her crack on the crack that she had already made. She could feel it widen as she leant on it already. She thought about taking a run at it but remembered how the building shook earlier. She could feel cool air blow through the wall. She smiled and began to jiggle. Floorboards creaked underneath her. Debris began to fall and bounce off her giant derriere. She could feel the wind on her red hair. Then she stepped through like passing through a mirror into  the world beyond. She wasn’t sure what was behind her.

Bird Trap

I’ve found a forest friend in the most unlikely of places. Although there’s a giant wood nearby, there’s also rows of houses alongside a fast main road which is where I found him. Maybe he’s been raiding back gardens for food and now he’s pulling up worms from nearby grassy patches. The nice gap of brown soil is a good spot  to watch worms surface. The centre left gap might even be the entrance to a burrow. What’s on the left of that isn’t clear. It could be a rock, a bit of paper, or some tissue. The robin himself could have ventured out of one of these holes. It’s nearly like a magic eye. He’s lower to the ground than me so it’s probably easier for him to see them. He probably has much better eyesight than me too. But the ground could gobble up anything that puts pressure onto it.

If I buy an entire row of seats on a long flight so no one is next to me, can the airline sell one of my empty seats to someone or will they respect the fact that the empty seats are mine to do as I please with?

It’s weird that communications doesn’t work both ways, but unfortunately, people have to be checked in. Once the airline realises that those seats aren’t going to be filled; they’ll try to sell them to someone else; providing that there’s no-one waiting on stand-by. If you check in at the desk, someone may ask where the rest of your party is. You’ve got to make an arrangement with the airline first if you need more room. It’s difficult because they want to out everyone into the same bubble which makes things easier for them to deal with. But companies are different. You need to check the booking terms and conditions when you book. And if there’s a good deal, they need to put procedures into  place so that their competitors don’t buy these seats which would force customers to seek out more expensive flights. Know your rights before you go. It’s difficult to look them up once you’ve boarded!