Obstacle Course

It’s important to land with a really loud noise; especially if you are small, to make yourself heard.  You may want to omit a loud noise as well to be sure that people are paying attention. If you re in an enclosed space, you might be able to create an echo for emphasis. It’s usually a dead sound that bounces off the stone. This may hurt your heels upon landing, so be sure that you’re wearing appropriate footwear. The last thing you want to make sure of is where you land. Landing on a stone could be quite painful with the wrong footwear and the pain could go straight through your heel and into the bone. Ouch. But if you’re lucky, it might end up in a crack in between your shoe print pattern and it’ll come loose the next time you jump or the moment you set that shoe inside a house.

L.A Confidential

This was a great film as we got a glimpse of actors in their earlier elements. It wasn’t immediately evident what era the film was focusing on, but it’s probably because I’m not from that era or area. I loved how all the detectives got around in an old Mercedes Coupe all to themselves. It’s a bit hard to follow who the lower protagonists were but it was hard to favour one main protagonist over the other, and it take me a while to work out the film plot arrests were real. I enjoyed how quickly the events climaxed in the last hour of the film. I was pretty shocked how it all came to fruition. It would have been interesting to see more of a plotline from the antagonist perspective, but it’s not a good look for the public. I guess that they had to go on the values of the time.

Hair Raising

You’ve got to hope that there’s a brain and head in front of all that hair. All we can see are bits of a pink flesh that forms a face, and for all we know, that could be a mask. Something else could be pulling the strings. It could be a small insect or an alien. It might even be a robot controlled by something many moons away, and they’re still trying to master the controls of a child before they move on to master an adult. They’re going to push it to its limits. They might even achieve things that are humanly impossible which might draw a bit of attention to themselves. They might make the hair grow even longer and persuade it to act independently of the body to draw power and use it like arms with superhuman strength without the brain or host knowing. Or they might simply need a haircut.

Iran deal scheduled to be signed on Sunday

This comes from a president who just wants attention. Anything he says will be printed and posted a million times over, but we ought to know by know that there’s no truth in what he says. He’s said this too many times before. Apparently, this is the final decision. It’s also not clear what the deal is. We know that there’s some interest in their nuclear arsenal. Will there be a total bombardment if it’s not accepted? It would be interesting to see what the other side has to say about these deals, but they probably don’t trust us. On Monday we’ll probably be told that they need some time to think it over and we’ll be back to square one. It’s a bit selfish that the rest of the world has to absorb the cost and put up with it. Some of us are just fed up with hearing about it.

Invincible

This little spark has been amazing. Despite not having the best start as a toddler; she’s always been happy and smiling in her demeanour. When young, she’s always been willing to try new things to work out what she likes and dislikes. Now that she’s taller and a teenager; her tastes have changed but she’s found a good circle of friends to look after her. She’s becoming addicted to her phone and it’s becoming difficult to talk to her. The conversations are shorter. When she does start a conversation, it’s very dominant and inquisitive. The biggest discussion we had recently was about dinosaurs and how other animals survived when they died so I might have to read up about this. Apparently she watched a documentary about it. She still likes sport but runs more to keep fit rather than to compete. She’s not sure of her future yet but who is nowadays?

What if you would only eat Strawberries?

Scientifically, it wouldn’t be good for your diet. You’d be eating sugar all of the time which might force you to become diabetic. You’d lose a lot of protein so you wouldn’t be able to develop or sustain any body fat. You’d lose a lot of weight. And it would be socially awkward at mealtimes too. You might have to avoid visits or carry a small supply and ask your hosts to dispose of them afterwards. You might need a guaranteed supply of refrigeration and you’d have to ensure that you can source them wherever you go or be able to have some transported to you unless you can take some for the shole duration of your trip. It may even stop you from having trips away. You might end up with reddish teeth from the constant strawberry stains. People may be concerned about your mental health and will visit you to try to change your diet; or take you to others who will attempt to do the same. You may deteriorate sooner than you think.

The Short Jump

With the wet weather, the field is out of bounds because of the wet grass. but it’s a bit drier today so we’ve been granted patio access. There’s not a lot of room for running but there’s a bit of room for jumping. And even though the athletes don’t have access to their full track and equipment, they’re taking the opportunity to practice what they can. The grass may need cutting but sport comes first; and we make do with what materials we have around the home. It would be impressive if they cleared the three-metre mark, but as long as they stay stationary towards the end, we can still capture record-breaking attempts, even if they’re not able to fully complete the process in proper attire. Their hair might be a bit too long, but there’s nothing that we can do about that and we just cope with what we’ve got.

The handyman can

He’s small but practical and knows his stuff. He prefers to dress professional with jeans. Occasionally, he’ll break into shorts but only in a task that doesn’t involve heavy lifting for safety reasons. He’s a quiet chap who’s eager to help out any way he can. He’s fast to respond, but he’s a man of principle and also likes to stick to his allocated hours. He’s got a family so there’s other commitments but perhaps he has a second job as well. He likes to discuss progress and what we’ve done in past years, but it’s only to ensure that nothing has changed and at the end of the day we’re just a client to him. It’s hard to find out what he really thinks, or if he’s glad that we’re gone, or whether it’s just all part of the job and he has another group to deal with next week. We might even be one of the good ones.

Clicks and...

So what magic can you conjure up? One of the first things that people like to play with are the backgrounds. These can be photos or images that have been downloaded off the internet. You can display your business logo if you want. With the advance of A.I, it’s easier than ever to generate an image. Some people think this looks professional, though others will argue that you’re trying to hide your room and you’re not being honest. And they’re right in a way. I don’t know why people don’t do this when they give interviews on the news. Perhaps they have to follow a broadcasting code. The other effects that you can create is n avatar to disguise your face. You can be a blur; an animal; or have some objects floating above your face like rainclouds or a halo. Just remember how to turn them off if you’re going to be dealing with anything important.

"Be selective in your battles. Sometimes peace is better than being right."

It’s not a great mantra  to go by. Conceding defeat doesn’t look good for your organisation when you give up. But sometimes you have to recognise that continuing your line of disruption may have greater consequences than desired if resisted, and you’d rather keep things the way they were. It’s difficult to know how to choose. Sometimes the enemy will make a threat if you pursue your action that you may not have planned for. If the threat is carried out every time you make your proposal, eventually you can plan to counteract it. At other times, your threat is good enough to create action from other parties to create peace. Sometimes you’ll be asked to join a battle rather than lead one, but you need to think carefully about how this will affect your life as well as the lives of others. You have to time it right. Choose wisely.

People on Seats

Some people appreciate the online chat. It’s usually the people who thrive with others; especially with their peers. They will stay online for hours playing with settings and asking others what the effects are while you’re secretly viewing or tampering with things on another page because you’re bored and you’re not really concentrating. Other people will hop on a brief call for an occasion or a structured conversation, then they’ll begin to feign off when all the important stuff is said and done. They’d rather be taking to their peers who may be in person or they want to jump onto another call. If you’re lucky, you may get an invite. It depends on how intimate and socially awkward the situation is. You might be able to hack the call if they’re hosting it and you are using the same details. The worst thing that they can do is kick you out, though there could be words to be had later.

Tunnelling Out #empress 27

After searching through giant crop circles of footprints, each pair slightly bigger than the last, he came to the realisation that if the tunnel was still there, it had probably been trampled upon and would have caved in by now. All around him was rubble and desolation. The only way in having a hint of where he was right now was to wait until the sun came up and follow that direction back to the city. He could follow the empress, but he could see no reason as to why she’d head back there right now. Maybe he should pick a direction and keep walking that way. And should any rumblings increase, he should turn around and run in the opposite direction. It would be good if he could find a horse, but there was no sign of any wildlife whatsoever. Maybe if he could find some water, he could find one. 

Roasting the Watermill

This classic building is worth checking out. It’s got a lovely sense of history, even though the company that runs it only moved in three years ago. It has lots of nooks and crannies as well as open areas to create a great atmosphere to cater for groups and small parties who treasure privacy alike. There’s high wooden beams above corner booths and a private room upstairs for small functions. The bar and menu is mostly tied, but it’s good quality and value, and the service is fast too; whether you order at the bar or online. It’s got its own large car park and its isolated location feels likes it’s in the heart of the country, even though the town’s ring road isn’t far away. It’s even set alongside a canal with its own beer garden, with a convenient hotel next door as well, although that’s aimed at travellers from further afield.

Coaching Time

It’s Olympic time! As part of our new government-imposed student home study programme, we’re required to do a PE aspect. There’s an indoor aspect which involves watching exercise videos on YouTube, but there’s also an outdoor element if the weather allows. As we’re allowed out for walks; we’ve come to a quiet playing field to stretch our legs and give us a bit more room for the activities required. First up is a standing jump contest to see who can travel the furthest. Adults and siblings are allowed to join in for friendly competition; but it’s only the pupil’s result that has to be recorded alongside their height and weight. I suppose it’s to make sure that we’re taking care of the kids and compare results to find a class champion. This is followed by a running jump contest and there’s tips included on how to travel further. Grab your whistle.  

How can I punish employees who just go home right once their shift ends?

Change their contract to extend their shift upon request. Because if they’ve completed their contracted hours, then it becomes their time and there’s not much that you do. You can offer them extra money in the form of overtime or hours, but they don’t have to accept it. After all, they’re people with lives too. Ut let’s be clear; you’re only punishing people who just go home. Does this mean that you want people to hang out with out after their shift, maybe in a bar or an after-work social? Again, this isn’t part of the job unless it’s specifically within their contract. You might mock them for not joining in, but it has to be in good jest. What about employees who visit friends, go shopping, or meet up with family after work? They might even have another shift to start elsewhere. If you’re going to ask someone where they’re ging every time they finish a shift, it’s a little intrusive and quite frankly none of your business.

Festival in a box

It’s a novel idea. You can get fresh cask-conditioned beer delivered direct to your door. The licensee makes a bit of money and he’s able to keep his regular customers happy. You might not have the time to drink it all in one day, so you’d need to start with the weaker ones first as the stronger ones will last longer. There’s no printed bar guide, but you get that through an email. You also have to supply your own glass and you have to wash it up afterwards, but you do receive a selection of snacks. You also get a good variety of beer styles; not something you’d usually find at a festival as you get to choose them, but I’m sure that he would accommodate your request when you order. A couple of merchandising bits would be nice, but there’s also the risk that you’re giving away tat. At least the doorstep delivery is included in the price, and you can discuss the beers that you’re tasting online.

I spy with my little eye something beginning with A

I hope that the first thing that it suggests isn’t going to be Alexa, but it probably will be. To be fair, there aren’t many nouns that begin with ‘A’. She knows what sort of room she’s in so she’s got a fair idea of what could be in it. I’ve decided to settle with aeroplane, even though there isn’t one here. It could be a model or a poster. It comes up with some very novel things including a list of animals. Who keeps an anteater in their bedroom? Am I going to get the same answers when I answer again? There doesn’t seem to be an opportunity for me to feedback the answer. It’s also the same guesses again. I’m going to change the letter phonetically. Exactly the same. Finally, I change it to L for Lego. This gives better results in alliterative sentences but it doesn’t take the game seriously.

Your To-do list...Solved

It’s important to make everything disaster-proof. You need to plan for the worst and hope for the best. While it’s difficult to remember the protocol for every situation; it’s good to have everything written down and planned out in an emergency. And if you don’t have access to that information, it’s important that you can contract someone that does. The important thing is to remain as calm as you can and hopefully others will understand the situation and will assist you. Your responsibility is to keep everyone around you safe and call the emergency services if you need them. Then you can focus on what needs doing for the business. And if the helpline can’t advise you on what to do, you’ll need to seek support from elsewhere. Hopefully, these numbers haven’t changed or there’s an automated forwarding system, otherwise you’re going waste time trying to look up new numbers.

Masters of the Universe

This film borders too much on the nostalgia; and doesn’t give much opportunity to introduce the franchise to new viewers. There’s a nice nod to the actor who played him in the previous film, but the character is taken just too seriously. There’s not enough room for any love interest either. Instead, we’re treated to patriarchal relationships concluded by people with hearty laughs, though there was an attempt early on in the film. But after fifteen years from boyhood, you’d have thought that he would have forged a few more connections. It’s all a bit too cheesy with a slight mockery of the wonder, and there’s even a cheap plug for teamwork. And the two brief characters that require animation or CGI only make very brief appearances for nostalgia. The film becomes more unreal as we move away from earth, and it’s a shame that the final battle didn’t take place there.

Dragons have bad habits

It’s hard to change habits; especially those of a dragon. The only scenario that I can see a dragon sharing is with its offspring, and even then it won’t be for too long as there’ll be a battle for space in the lair. And because they’re immortal, they’re not too bothered about leaving themselves a legacy or creating descendants. But if they did share, we’d all be rich. But because they don’t, they could be responsible for a lot of problems. There’s a lot going on besides themselves but getting a dragon to care about something other than itself can be difficult, because of their selfish nature. They don’t want to be bothered by you. If you’re going to do something that’s going to directly affect it, they’ll fight to keep it that way, even if you are trying to do something to protect it should their immortality be threatened by something that they don’t understand.

Avoiding Medusa's Gaze #dream 220

I’ve come over to see a friend. I think I’ve been invited in but the rest of the family don’t seem to be very welcoming, though they’ve left the door unlocked because I’m expected. I’ve taken the initiative to make my own cup of tea, but this is solely because I’ve been there too many times before and have often ended up making drinks for the entire family while my friend has asked me to make her one. I headed upstairs with two mugs of tea and knocked on my friend’s door. I’m told to come inside, where her family surrounds her while she’s in bed. Her sister hands me a large brown envelope and tells me that it’s a draft copy of a court injunction. Apparently I’m not welcome here any more because I’m too intrusive. I just look at my friend for an explanation who refuses to meet my gaze.

Don't leave it Hanging

I’m using this app less and less recently. The discounts on offer tend to be less than with instant discounts elsewhere. With this, I have to wait for purchases to be verified and the amounts are so miniscule that it’s not worth bothering with any longer. Most of the big rewards require referrals or they involve spending at chain retailers that aren’t in my area. In the meantime, I get pop-up notifications and emails on a weekly basis. I should unsubscribe, but there may come a time when the app becomes useful again. I should really spread the word. But it was good in its heyday and I’ve actually saved over one hundred pounds in the last six years. I’ve got no idea why I saved this screenshot; it was probably because I pressed the wrong button. But if you don’t mind a bit of publicity and you’re interested, here’s my referral code for £5: TCNKHFQV

Belfast attack latest: Starmer condemns 'sickening' stabbing as man arrested for attempted murder

It seems that everything needs a comment from a politician these days to make it newsworthy. The focus seems to be less on a solution and more on what shouldn’t have happened. Half of the time, they’re not even focussing on the facts. Even the police might not have the facts correctly and the act could have been in self-defence. A motive has not yet been established. Repeating things with timestamps gets you out of liability issues and it shows that you’re aware that you don’t have all the facts. But people have the right to know that these things happen, but the problem is why they happened. The focus seems to be on the attacker rather than the victim. And that’s what causes fear. We can only draw conclusions from what we know. And we put a body of people in place to find these facts out. Hopefully we can trust them.

Time Well Wasted

I’ve been taking the time o do what everyone else has been doing; chilling out; chatting via the web, and playing games. With all this time on our hands, I should have taken the time to invest in a bit of technology, or plot and plan for something. Instead, I’ve been testing the technology, but like everyone else I was cautious. Here, my ambition was to rest an old laptop back to factory settings so I could focus it solely on playing a strategy war game on CD. After reinstalling an older version of windows, it still wouldn’t work. My friend came up with an idea of an emulator on my modern machine which lets you run different versions of windows, but I wasn’t prepared to take the risk. You could probably find the same on an online emulator, but you’d probably have to keep your tab open indefinitely to save your progress.

What if you woke up one morning with green teeth?

It might be a while until you find out. You might be one of those people who don’t smile that often so it will take a while for someone to tell you. Even then, it might not make much of a difference. Could this be because of something you ate? Maybe you went and grazed in a field the night before or ate a piece of cake with green icing. You could have been drinking green shots or cocktails; or you’ve consumed some sort of dyed product. It’ll probably wash off the moment you brush your teeth; which may be the moment that you discover they’re green. You might not recall what you’ve done. Maybe someone inserted something into your mouth while you were sleeping. As long as it comes off, I wouldn’t worry too much. It would be interesting to see what people’s reactions would be and whether they’ll be as so bold as to inform you of the anomaly. Or you could have planned it all. It might not bother you. Or you might want to take action before you even get out of bed.

Cake on your Lap

Cake on your lap,

Cake on your lap,

It’s bound to be a bit of a mishap.

Why is it there? It’s like you don’t care.

You’re too lazy to reach for the table over there.

And with a little wobble, your mind turns from gobble,

There’ll become a gap when the cake is no longer on your lap.

Cake on your lap,

Cake on your lap,

All it takes is one single tap

For the cake to be off-balance

And you’d do a nervous dance

So stop it from falling into your pants.

And because you had chocolate

You don’t need a doctorate

To work out you’re ging to ruin the romance.

Cake on your lap,

Cake on your lap,

It might feel like you’re under attack.

It could happen while you’re taking a nap.

When your legs start swaying, you’d better start praying

Or you might start a new saying

Of cake on your lap.

A Nice Niece

This little spark has been amazing. Despite not having the best start as a toddler, she’s always been happy and smiling in her demeanour. When younger, she’s always been winning to try new things to work out what she likes and dislikes. Now that she’s taller and a teenager, her tastes may have changed but she’s found a good circle of friends to look after her. She’s addicted to her phone and it becomes difficult to talk to her. The conversations are shorter. The biggest discussion we had was about dinosaurs and how other animals survived when they died so I might have to read up about those. Apparently she’s watched a documentary about it. When she does start a conversation, she’s very dominant and inquisitive. She still likes sport but runs to keep fit rather than to compete. She’s not sure of her future yet but who is nowadays?

We need your help! Get tagging

It’s a bit uncertain as to what the purpose of this promotion is. It’s great for the consumer, and if they share it, you’re going to get even more followers. The only way that they can use this information is that if they want to brew a sci-fi beer or add a decoration to their tap bar. This makes them more popular and they might want to brew a collaboration. Of course, they could always talk to people, but they might want to get their inspiration a bit quicker or they might need a written record of what was said. I wonder what other themes they’ve considered. And if you’re not a sci-fan, would you have to wait for a contest that you are interested in? It might be  bit of a wait. You always lie to enter the prize draw, but if you win, would you have to prove your knowledge?

Time to Sparkle

Seventy is a bit of a glam period nowadays. You’re retired but you’ve still got a bit of time to enjoy it. You’re young enough to be mobile to get about; that’s if you’re lucky enough to have taken care of yourself and you’ve got some dosh left to spend. A couple of decades ago you’d be considered lucky to have gotten this far, but nowadays it’s becoming more and more common. Hopefully you’ve raised a family to take care of you and entertain you and involves you in their lives without taking too much of their time and wishes. It’s a time to sparkle and shine while you still can before the lights go out. You may have amassed some wealth so that others can help do this for you. You’ve been blessed if you’ve managed to achieve both. Otherwise, you may be confined to what you have around you at the time.