Stuff you kid.... 6WS

Stuff you kid, sticks and stones....
Six Word Saturday

I walked into town today in shorts and a t-shirt - it's overcast but warm and I have a dodgy thermostat and tend to overheat.   Halfway down the road a bunch of teenagers drove past and the passenger leant out of the window and pretended to retch in my direction.  Yes they are pleasant lads around here.

So, a few things went through my mind:

Oh my god, do I look that bad?

Why do teenagers feel the need to be hurtful to complete strangers, just to impress their friends?  there's no way he'd have done it if he'd been alone.

"I bet I look better than you will at 45, sunshine."

"One day you'll realise that real women aren't Photoshopped."

"Your legs wouldn't look that brilliant if they'd been crushed for 90 minutes - shall I show you...?"

Ok, my legs don't look the best - cellulite and not much muscle tone to speak of just now (but I'm working on that one). And they are odd, I mean not matching, not just 'odd'.

For about 10 seconds I thought "maybe I shouldn't wear shorts" - very rapidly followed by "Fuck them, I'll wear what I damn well like, if they don't like it, they don't have to look."

At a flick of the points, that of course took my train of thought off to how much we judge what other people wear, and we women are particularly bad at this.  "Oh my god look at her, she SO shouldn't wear that top, what does she think she looks like?"

Now there are some fashions which I personally don't like, but it usually isn't personal to the individual wearing them (except that they should perhaps think before following fashion so rigorously). At the moment it is black footless tights and skirts/dresses, and those stupid little pump shoes that no-one over the age of 10 ought to wear (in my ever so humble opinion).

I do think over the last few months I have become a lot more accepting of other people, maybe it is the studying that is making me think before I judge.  As soon as someone makes a 'Daily Mail'* type statement I will be considering the other viewpoint, and even - if I'm feeling brave - voicing it.    (*UK readers will understand what I mean).  But it still needs work, there is something inside us all that likes to make ourselves feel better by denigrating others, whether spoken or unspoken.

Anyway, by the time I was walking home I didn't care if people were looking at my legs, it makes a change to them looking at my breasts at least.

Six Word Saturday

Six Word Saturday


Only three days until summer holidays!

What am I going to do with my time after Tuesday... no studying until October, and no dog until September!   Oh well yes there's the day-job, but I'm talking about all those other hours.

I am determined not to totally waste them (although there will be some sun-lounger + novel time involved) so had better start writing down ideas now...

Six word Saturday

Garden soaking up the welcome rain

We've had a very dry month, very unusual for April in England!   I've been watering the vegetable patch almost every night, as promised rain has not materialised. It was therefore a very welcome thunderstorm we had last night, and it's going to rain all day today.   

Normally on a Saturday I'd be wishing for dry weather, but today I'm revelling in the wet and the plants almost smiling at me.

Six Word Saturday

Stinging skin for a permanent reminder

I'll explain later ;-)

Six Word Saturday

6 Word Saturday

What I want, When I want

There is something infinitely satisfying about a day with No Plans.  I can do exactly as my mind or body desires.  If that involves hoovering or some work then so be it - it's my choice, to do or not to do.  There is no-one here to tell me I should or shouldn't be doing things. There is no time at which I have to have lunch, or expect visitors, or feel as though I should be going to see my parents (since they are away for the weekend).

After letting DJ out, feeding him and getting a cup of tea, this morning I lay in bed til 9am, during which I made a list of all the things I'd remembered I have to do for work.  I tend to think of things either last thing at night, or first thing in the morning, at which point a notepad and pen by the bed are essential. And sometimes the ability to write legibly in the dark.

Photo from here

I really like the idea of distinguishing between Notes and Rests in life as you do in music.

It's now 10.30am and so far all I have done is read my (personal) e-mails, have another cup of tea and a pain-au-chocolat and put some washing in. Nothing too strenuous.

I might:

Do some studying
Walk Django
Hoover
Wash-up
Watch a psychology programme on iPlayer
Write letters
Do some work
Wash my hair
Get some wood in for the fire

Or I might not.

Six Word Saturday

Need to tidy. Where to start?

Disclaimer as I know Mr H. reads this blog. This cartoon is metaphorical not literal...

The weekend is generally my tidying/studying time, especially since I'm no longer in the habit of striding into town (15 minute walk) to see the Saturday market and look for things to buy that I didn't really need. 

The sitting-room, in fact the whole house, still has remnants of when I was sleeping in here - stuff in places where it wouldn't normally live.  Stuff we wouldn't normally have! Piles of DVDs borrowed from friends, rubbish/recycling baskets that were in here temporarily but now I find quite useful.  Magazines, books, CDs, aaggh and now my new floor bicycle that arrived yesterday!

The kitchen still has my trolley and stool in it although I haven't used them for a couple of months.  I could put them in the workshop I suppose.  My friend said I could sell the trolley but I keep thinking that I'll probably use it for going shopping, when I'm happy to walk but not carry a rucksack full of stuff!  or maybe I'll be too embarrassed to use a granny trolley. 

The kitchen table is covered in post, drugs, notes, stuff.

And I brought the recycling bin into the kitchen from outside, so that I didn't have to open the back door every time I want to throw away an envelope - I was ending up with piles of paper on the side ready to be put in the recycling. Under the drainer, where it got dripped on. The thing with our back door is that it was cheap.  So after 17 years there is a half-inch gap down the side of the bottom half where it has warped, so in the winter I jam a dog-towel in there to stop the draft. So it's a nuisance to open/close it in the winter. I know, I know!  but have you seen the price of a good quality, hardwood exterior door??

The desk has a large pile of post that belongs to Mr H on it, and a bag full of boxes of Paracetamol and Ibuprofen where my friend went a bit overboard buying it for me.  And other crap.

And as for the bedroom.... I need a severe clear out of clothes and somehow I'm never in the right mood to do it.  So I look sorrowfully at the pile of stuff by the bed in the morning, then come downstairs and forget about it.

Anyway, I do need to get some of this stuff sorted out before Mr H gets home on the 23rd, since my parents are coming for Christmas Day evening and we'll need somewhere to eat our food....

Six Word Saturday

Flying Home to my other Reality

We woke to half an inch of snow on the ground, but still-green hills!   Checked Glasgow Airport, all scheduled flights leaving as planned.  Friend texted to say there is no snow at home.

Phew, it sounds like I will be home without too much trauma.  Except that of being dropped off by Mr H and Django at the airport, I have made sure I have my hankie in my pocket...

River Doon

Six Word Saturday : a grand day out

Tired feet, tired hands, good day :-)

Today we met up with my niece who is at Uni in Glasgow, she caught the train down to Ayr and we did the tourist thing.

The end of the day my feet were sore, and my hands were aching (from the crutches), I reckoned that we had walked at least the Lang Scots Mile, twice!   We had burgers and chips in a seaside cafe which sold buckets and spades, and inflatable beach-balls and dinghies.  It was the first time we'd ever spent time with my niece on her own (ie. without one of her parents being there) and it was great to get to know her a bit better.  

Another lovely day :-)

Six Word Saturday

I can't believe it's Saturday again aleady, this week seems to have flown by.

Five days until I see them!

Yes folks I am going for my first visit to Ayrshire and I can't wait!   Well it's not strictly my first visit, since we did the 8-hours-each-way drive up in May to view the flat (apartment), and back the same day; we had about an hour to look round the flat and check out the village and dog-walking possibilities and got home at 2am.    Yes that sounds mad but the flat sounded perfect and we didn't want to miss it, that is the problem with looking for somewhere to rent 450 miles away.

This is one of the things that sold it to me...

We don't have a bath at home, only a shower.  This place has a bathroom and a shower room, decadence! (Yes that's me in the mirror)

This was one of the things that sold it to both of us....

30 seconds outside the back door - a big rough area for walking Django and a fly-fishing river for Mr H in the summer.

So now I am going for my first proper visit, it's going to be great to explore the area and see the places Mr H works.  I'm flying up and have assistance booked at the airport, which means I get someone to push me around in a wheelchair and board the plane first.   That is going to offend my independent sensibilities but I am going to swallow my pride and enjoy it ;-)

Six Word Saturday

Big bed, tea, book, lie in

Bliss!!


Six Word Saturday, chez Cate

Six Word Saturday

Six Word Saturday

Been out. Done stuff. Tired now.

I'm too tired to write anything... instead I will share some images from my day: