Something's been bugging me...

I’ve had a winter bug for quite a while now. I’ve been sick at work which actually caused me to take to bed the following day then cancel work the day after. It also left my uniform and shoes with an interesting smell; not to mention the smell left in the bathroom. Two weeks later, after a large meal, it happened again. Luckily, I managed to sort myself out in time. Then again in a pub after another fortnight (that one wasn’t so clean). But I’ve had this stomach bug for quite a while now. At best, I feel a bit dizzy or nauseous, and my farts tend to be a bit more powerful and smell more. Trouble is, there’s no real access to medical care. All the doctors will only work during daytime hours; getting an appointment means that you have to spend an archaic time on the phone against a load of old grannies. Where’s the priority for the working man?

Fyne Ales Jarl at Craven Arms, Birmingham

This pub is fairly new on the real ale scene, but has a good local following. Formerly owned by Holden's, it is now run by Black Country Ales who have done a superb job of preserving the exterior tiles and lights. Its square lounge allows for many tables, each with its own view of the bar and it's beer blackboard which changes constantly. The good news is that beer shifts here and is kept well. The bad news is that the cost is slightly more expensive; a half pint of a stronger beer can cost up to £2.50. Each hand pump also has tasting notes to help you make the big decision.  I sampled Jarl from the Fyne Brewery in Scotland which had a strong taste despite its low gravity; with my very own Nessie. It's a perfect pub for meeting for a chat with friends. I also tried the Weird Beard Black Perle; a superb milk coffee stout.

Middlemarch by George Eliot

Middlemarch by George Eliot
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Eliot’s novel perfectly illustrates nineteenth century values of life in the provinces; the disvalue of education and politics, the need to find hobbies for the idle, the fear of women meddling in the affairs of men. Learned men remain as professional as possible; even making marriage proposals in the form a letter; which justifies Dorothea’s need to seek an alternative lover. Gossip is king as always; demonstrated by Mrs Cadwallader who likes to remain in political circles for this very reason. The arrival of Lydgate is the instant talk of the town owing to his being eye candy by the female characters. His association with Mr. Bulstrode is a remarkable commentary on the nineteenth century healthcare system and Eliot’s efforts to improve it. The fact that Lydgate remains a bachelor creates much suspense within the novel; since he would be the preferable lover for Dorothea. However, Dorothea’s needs are for power and influence and is a form of escapism for her provincial life.

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Star Wars: The Force (re) Awakens

I finally got around to seeing the new Star Wars film. I was surprised to see that there were a fair few people in the cinema watching it considering it had been out a fair while. That said, the film truly is a sellout to Disney. It’s just coincidence that Ren steals the Millennium Falcon; which is just coincidence that it’s salvaged by Hans Solo and Chewbacca. But why didn't the First Order simply turn on the force field when Finn and Ren escape the Star Destroyer?Once again, there's a bloody big spaceship for the rebels to blow up which has a very similar weakness to the point that you may as well name it Death Star III.  The producers probably made a good decision to write an exit plot for Hans, he probably wouldn't survive another two films. And the supreme master just seems to be a gigantic version of Lord Voldemort . I think the only novel thing that made it enjoyable is the obese robot that rolls around everywhere. I bet R2 made him. 

The Scarlett Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

After Hawthorne’s overindulging introduction to his background in the Custom House, we jump straight into a third person narrative to learn of Hester Prynne and her sin in early seventeenth century American society. As there is so much contempt for her at the beginning of the novel, her resolve to stay within the community shows just how duty-bound she feels to continue to reside in New England rather than to have confidence and start life afresh. It’s a shame that the narrative isn't done in the third person; but then again that is what makes it so readable in comparison to other novels at that time. But there are times when Hawthorne wants to be more exotic in his descriptions; yet the societal values at the time prevents him from doing so in order for the story to be published. The conclusion must be the most pleasing as we gain a sense that justice has been served, but there is very little portrayal of emotion from Hester.

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Smokin

So today's my first morning back at work after a week away sorting out the festival. We've had a new alarm system installed; and I've been told that I didn't need to do anything about the backdoor and got a new identity tag and some instructions. I didn't get to lock the store that evening as the delivery team arrived just as we were leaving. So today was the first time I got to use it. We got in ok and did the usual preparations, then I went to open the backdoor in preparation for our van checks. All of a sudden, alarms start to sound which is contrary to what I've been told. It turns out that the goods in door is now connected to the smoke cloak; which has started spraying at the other end of the shop. At the same time, the fire alarm started which overrode the electrical supply to the door. After making contact with a few managers I eventually got hold of a helpline which told me that they no longer support my store. I gave up, sent someone out through the fire escape to release the doors from the outside, then waited for the smoke to clear. We gave up on the backdoor; so brought everything through to the front. Amazingly, we only departed twenty minutes late. 

Dream Diary 5

Tonight I was on holiday somewhere hot with my mum. No father, no one else, just us in a small town with a blue sky and an old church. Nowhere exotic, just somewhere Mediterranean, but they did make a lot of rugs. I was still in the same job as I was constantly on the phone booking days off, but it was very peaceful and we were just walking through the resort together talking about how many rugs we could see. We’d just seen how they were made, and we were looking at just how many rug vendors there were and spotting the people that had bought them. We also discussed goat milk production and who did it the old fashioned way, and who had a milking machine. Bizarrely, the man who runs the local petrol station had one. We also walked through someone's garage which had a red fire fiesta parked in it, and I also rolled down a hill full of rugs on my belly without anyone commenting.  I suppose it's my current future if things don't change. Not a bad future though.