What a weekend....

Saturday was quite good - I went into Coventry and met up with Carole and Amber - who seemed determined to play up - at least whilst she was with her mother! In the end, Carole got so fed up with her, she detatched the wrist strap from her arm, and said "here - you look after the little monster".

As soon as I put the strap around my wrist, Amber was as good as gold, walking along, sucking her thumb, and clinging onto me for grim death! (I think it might have been something to do with the fact that I promised her a Thornton's chocolate lolly!)

I left the pair of them later in the afternoon and got my hair cut / coloured, and got myself seriously relaxed, as I was going to be driving down to RHS Wisley - to see my daft friend.

I was supposed to meet up with him at 10:00, but I managed to get caught up in the aftermath of an accident on the M40... He called me at 09:35, and said that he was at Wisley, and wanted to know where I was!

Answer - belting down the M40 towards Princes Risborough, at a rather rapid pace (ok - about 90mph!) and was doing my best to get to Wisley with a clean driving license!

I got to Wisley at 10:15, and got parked, and walked up to my friend - who called out across the carpark...

"So what time do you call this, lover?"

I just grinned, as I saw the look on people's faces - they just didn't know what to make of the pair of us, especially as he hugged me - and to be honest, I thought he was trying to break my ribs - it was like a bear hug! I didn't object, as I knew that he didn't mean any harm, and that it was just his normal way of greeting me.

We walked across to the entrance of the gardens, and as I was smart enough to have grabbed Mum's RHS card, we got in for free - pest and guest!

The first thing that you see when you walk in, is a water Lilly pond, and there was a suggestion that I was used as a depth gauge - as in throw me in to see how deep it was! I pointed out that any attempt to do that would result in him being pulled in with me!

That made him laugh, and I suggested that we went to get a coffee - my treat, by way of an apology for being late. We sat talking, and it was like I'd only seen him a few days ago - I felt so relaxed in his company.

We decided to take a walk around the gardens, and swapped jokes and stories, and generally got to know each others' likes and dislikes... What I didn't realise was that he is very keen on roses - and I've suggested that next rose season, we head up to Austin Roses at Albrighton.

What I didn't realise at the time, was the fact that we share a similar outlook on life - as in there are friends that you trust to a certain extent, and then there are the friends that you trust implicitly - and would move heaven & earth to help.

I know this sounds silly, but this fella is one of those people that I would gladly drop everything and help - even if it was only just to provide an ear for him to bend, and a shoulder to fall apart on. Equally - I know that it works the other way, as he was the one who stopped me from calling it quits earlier in the year.

As the gardens closed at 15:45, we decided to go to a nearby pub (The Anchor - just outside Wisley village) where we just sat chatting about all sorts of things, and generally putting the world to rights once again.
When we finally decided that we could do no more about the world, we called it quits - with promises of not leaving it so damned long before we met up again, as the pair of us had really enjoyed spending the day together.

I still stand by what I said the first time that I met him - he's a really sweet fella, and if we were both single and lived closer to each other (he lives about 100 miles south of me!) I would seriously consider having a crack at him, as he's the sort of fella who I can relax with, and lose the hard nosed cow image....

And no - no matter what happens - I'm not going to let anything spoil my friendship - my other half knows damned well that there are some things that are non-negotiable -and this is one of them!

Suppose I should call it quits - I'm supposed to be working, not blogging!
Back tomorrow if I get the chance.
Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Time for a twisted joke....

Ok - this is a joke that has been floating around for years in various guises, but my partner told it to me whilst we were out on the town with Julian and co, and I've got to admit, I couldn't help but laugh!

Two men are sitting at the top of the Empire State Building drinking, when the first guy turns to the other one and said "You know, last week I discovered if you jump from the top of the building, by the time you fall to the 10th floor, the wind around the building is so intense it carries you back into the window".

The bartender just shakes his head in disapproval while wiping the bar, but says nothing.

The second guy says "What? Are you insane? There's no way that could happen!"

"No, it's true" said the first guy, "let me prove it to you."

He gets up from the bar, jumps over the balcony and plummets towards the street below. When he passes the 10th floor, the wind whips him in the window, and he takes the elevator back up to the bar.

The second guy is astonished. "You know, I saw that with my own eyes, but it must've been a fluke. That was scientifically impossible!"

"No, I'll prove it again" said the first man as he jumps.

Again, just as his body hurtles towards the street, the wind whips him into the 10th floor window. He takes the elevator back to the bar.

Once upstairs, he successfully urges his dubious fellow drinker to try it.

"Well what the heck," the second guys says, "I've seen that it works, so I'll try it".

He jumps over the balcony and rapidly plunges downwards........ His body hits the pavement with a loud "splat"

Back upstairs, the bartender who had been silent the whole time turns to the first drinker, and shakes his head and says...........

"You know, Superman, you're a real bastard when you're pissed."

Hmm - suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I'm suffering from a severe case of TNFI.............

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Another birthday, and another year older..

They say that as you get older, you're supposed to get wiser... I can disprove that theory, as I don't feel any damned different... If anything, I feel dafter than normal.

But, having said that, my partner has made a real fuss of me today, and has said that he will do everything that he can to make me feel brighter than I have for a while.

I guess the news that I need to have this MRI scan on my shoulder is really bothering me, and I don't mind admitting that I'm scared out of my tiny mind about it, especially as Mum is having trouble with the screws in her knee...

They're making a break for freedom, and I know damned well that the most important thing is for her to get that sorted out - my shoulder is just a painful inconvinence compared with that!

Suppose I'd better call this entry quits, as I'm supposed to be getting ready to go out to dinner...

Back when I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Up on cloud no. 9

I don’t quite know where to start… Apart from the fact that as of 01.11.05, I no longer deal with the one account that has been the bane of my existence! I’m still dealing with the OTR side of things, and I’m being given some additional tasks to keep me out of mischief.

Not that I object – as it gives me something else to get my fangs into, and I get more involved with the OTR stuff…

My line manager called me into a meeting at 15:30 yesterday afternoon, and that was when I got given the news… He said that he was worried that I would start looking for another job, because of the hassle that this one account was causing me, and didn’t want that to happen!

I will admit that I was somewhat surprised, and wondered if my partner had said something to my line manager, as he knew how much this one account was dragging me down – as he was the poor sod who had to put up with my bad temper when I was stressed!

But, my surprise turned to delight, when I was told that I was going to be taking on more of the OTR side of things, which means that I get to grips with some of the more obscure processes…

We also sorted out some other bits and pieces that had been concerning me, and I will admit, that when I left the meeting, I felt like I was walking on air!

Hmm – suppose I should look like I’m doing something other than blogging!

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Back to the grindstone - and things have changed..

I don't know what has happened in the department whilst I've been off, but things appear to have changed - for the worst.

My other half was joking with me on the 'phone, and said that he was going to make up for my non-appearance at work, because I was on holiday and that he said that he had quite a bit of work for me - I said that he'd been saving it up for me! He just laughed, but I noticed that he didn't deny saving the work for me!

I jokingly said that I was going sick today, and my line manager just looked at me, and said

"Don't you dare, Karen."


Normally he would have just laughed it off, and that would have been the end of it, but the look he gave me as I walked out last night made me wonder what the hell was going on. So, me being me, asked my partner what had been going on...

It turns out that my department had been really short staffed, as people had been off sick (or too pissed to come into work) and as a result, the powers that be in the department have really cracked down.

Needless to say, I was less than impressed as I felt that I was getting tarred with the same brush as those who got rat arsed, and refused to come into work.

But, thankfully, it looks like I will be escaping, as the OTR department are looking for what the guys are jokingly (or at least I hope they're joking) referring to as a cart-tart - i.e. someone to make them their coffee / teas when they're in the office, as well as doing the paperwork, and making sure that the back orders are clarified with them and the customer, before they get sent to the customer.

That's something that I don't object to, as it means that I get more involved with the bigger stuff (things that Carole jokingly refers to as Tonka toys), and hopefull, it will open a new path for me...

Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I'm suffering TNFI.......

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Mangled by the sawbones

Well, I've been to see the sawbones, and it's not good news. I've got a couple of problems with the shoulder, and it means that I've got to go for an MRI scan at some point.

The tendons in the joint are severely inflamed, and just to add insult to injury, there's a bone spur on the shoulder, which looks like it could be assisting with the inflammation.

I will admit, I was more than a little unhappy with the decision of the sawbones to give me two jabs in the joint... I protested, and said that all the jabs had done in the past was cause my arm to swell up, and give me a bit of relief for a few days, and then back to the state it was before - i.e. damned painful!

This time, the jab caused more problems than ever. I went flat on my face, as I reacted to the jab as normal... As soon as the sawbones saw that reaction, he decided against giving me the second jab... Something for which I was tremendously greatful for, especially when I saw how badly I bruised!

So, as I type this, my shoulder is killing me, and I'm beginning to wonder if I've done the right thing, by letting that ham fisted surgeon loose on my shoulder!

Ah well, suppose I'd better log off and bog off - it's my turn to give the moggies their worming pills!

Back later, if I haven't been ripped to small pieces.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Back to the UK...

Our last day in Gibraltar was Saturday, and Mum and I were flying out at 19:10 (local time - +2 hrs GMT), so we had quite a bit of time to kill..

The morning was somewhat overcast, and the cloud formation on the rock was something that I was determined to get a photograph of:

We decided to head down towards Casement Square to go and get something for lunch, and as we were walking down Main Street, we heard pipes and drums.. I wasn't quick enough with my camera to get the approach, but I did manage to get this picture:

According to one of the locals, they were marching to Casement Square for the ceremony of the keys, which took place every Saturday at 12:00...

Unfortunately, Mum wasn't fit enough to walk down to the square for 12:00, and I was unwilling to leave her to go and see the ceremony.. But I did manage to get this picture of the guards preparing to march back up Main Street:

The rest of the day, Mum and I spent shopping for the usual silly last minute bits and pieces, before heading to the airport... Which was where the fun and games started.

The first part was the total fiasco that passed for check-in. One desk for our flight (Monarch), whilst the BA flight had about four desks... Once that particular hurdle was dealt with, it was relatively painless to go through security and all the other formalities... And then we reached the departure lounge. And I though Jersey airport was primative!

Thankfully, we didn't have too long to wait before our flight, and were able to get semi-comfortable.. (I swear that they'd crammed more seats on the damned plane, but that's another grump that I've always had about travelling!)

The landing at Luton. What can I say, apart from the fact that I swear the aircraft thought it was a kangaroo. It bounced about 4 times on landing, and then it was the fun and games of the hike to passport control. Mum was knackered, and I wasn't much better, and to be honest, I was less than impressed with Luton airport's groundstaff.

They could see that Mum was struggling, and yet when you asked for help, it was a case of "sorry - not my department." I felt like asking them if they knew the meaning of customer service, but I didn't, as I was too damned tired, and all I wanted to do was get the case and get the hell out of there.

Then came the fun with the damned taxi. Neither mum or I were told that the driver would be waiting outside, so that added another 45 minutes to the time that we were stuck in the airport!

Needless to say, the pair of us have said that in future, we will refuse to travel from Luton, as it's a pain in the tail to get to, and a bloody mess.

Suppose I should log off and bog off, as I've got stuff to do around the house.

Back when I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Exploring the gardens..

Friday, Mum and I decided that we were going to go to the Botanical Gardens, as the pair of us are into our exotic plants...

The entrance was by the cable car, and was fronted by a magnificent pair of iron gates:



There was a wide variety of cacti, that I had only see growing under glass .. Things like the magnificent prickly pear - complete with it's stunning flower:



The rest of the garden was filled with plants that Mum and I had seen as conservatory plants in the UK, and occasionally in the wild, on our various travels...



But the one image that sticks in my mind is the famous Dragon Tree:



The hibiscus was the thing that Mum fell in love with, and I threatened to put sticking plasters on her finger nails, in order to stop her taking cuttings!



The rest of the gardens were lovely, and there was a small garden area located by the cafe.. The plants there were all poisonous, and I was quite taken with the idea of putting the cafe by them!




Time to call this entry quits - I'm being summoned for something!

Back tomorrow...

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Jerez de la Frontera..

Thursday, Mum and I went to Jerez de la Frontera. The only thing that I knew about Jerez, was the fact that there was a Formula 1 circuit there, and a famous horse fair that was held in May.

But, there was a lot more to Jerez than I'd realised... It turned out that the area was the sherry producing region of Spain! As far as I was concerned, sherry was the disgusting stuff that my great Aunt used to drink at Christmas...

The first stop on the trip (the one that I wasn't really looking forward to at all) was to the Harvey's sherry Bodega... (See http://www.jerezharveys.com/ for more info)



The main Bodega (pictured above) held about 1.5 million litres of Sherry, and the barrels were stacked five high, with the initials of the taster chalked onto the barrel, and the date that the various types had been tested:


That was a bit worrying for me, as I noticed that some of the barrels were leaking!


The various stages of the sherry making process were explained, and to be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste... The Spanish drink it straight out of the fridge, over ice with a decent lump of orange in it.

The second part of the trip was the bit that I was really looking forward to.. We were going to the Spanish riding school... (See http://www.realescuela.org/ ).

Outside, there was a mounted police officer keeping the traffic moving, and preventing the tourists being run over by the passing motorists:


The school itself was impressive, and there were ushers keeping an eye open for people with cameras, as photography was forbidden...

But that didn't stop me taking photos!



Time to log off and bog off - my dratted mobile's ringing...

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Walking to St Micheal's cave - and playing with more monkeys!

The next point for me to escape to was St Micheal's cave. The signs from the visitor centre at the top of the rock said that it was 20min away... 20 min by car, maybe, but on foot, it was more like 45 min... But that could have been due to the fact that I was stopping every so often to take photographs of things that caught my eye - like this little crocus:



This wasn't growing in someone's garden - this was growing by the side of the road, in a gap in the rock!


The entrance to St Micheal's cave was nothing special - a tourist shop selling the usual bits and pieces, and a small hut where a seemingly bored fella checked to make sure that each visitor had a valid ticket.

The cave itself wasn't spectacular (not when you compared it to places like Cheddar Gorge), but the stactites were beautiful:

One of the stalactites had fallen from the roof, and had a section cut away and polished, which showed the most beautiful markings imaginable:



On the way back, I decided to stop at the so called Apes Den - where the second troop of Barbery Apes lived.. There were loads of signs up telling people not to touch the apes, but it seemed that some of the tour guides took no notice of the signs:


But the one image that did make me smile, was this one:



It was one of the younger monkeys, and had jumped over the fence in an attempt to try and avoid getting beaten up by this monkey:



Hmm - suppose I should go and sort the moggies out.....

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Heading up the rock... And playing with the monkeys!

Wednesday, Mum and I decided that we would head up the Rock, and see the monkeys. There were large notices saying that it was a £500 fine for feeding the monkeys, and tourists were advised to keep plastic bags out of their way, as they (the monkeys) associated the bags with food, and would rip them open if they couldn't steal them!

To get up the rock there are several ways - you can walk (a non-starter for Mum), get a tour of Gibraltar (which was expensive - the tours were about £40 per hour!) and the other way was to get the cable car.

That was the option that Mum and I took, and on the way up, I was able to get some really good photographs. (The camera has proven to be one hell of an investment!)

As we got towards to top of the rock, Mum and I spotted what we thought were scrawny chickens... It turned out that they were Barbery Partridges - and are extremely rare!

As we entered the visitor "centre", Mum and I both noticed that there were large signs warning about carrying plastic carrier bags. It turns out that the monkeys associate them with food, and will either snatch them away from you, or will tear them open to steal the food! We saw this happen, unfortunately, I wasn't quick enough with the camera to get the proof!


The views were phenomenal, and as I was looking, I spotted an aircraft... Ok - I thought that it was going to land in Spain, as the approach didn't seem right...


Then , the aircraft banked, and appeared to be skimming the waves!

The landing was something that I was interested to see, as I knew for a fact that the runway was rather intimidating - water on three sides!





The Monkeys were all over the place, and some would even pose for a photograph - if you were quick enough!


Suppose I should log off and bog off - I'm supposed to be getting on with some housework!

Back later, if I get the chance...

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

First impressions…

I don’t quite know what I expected Gibraltar to look like. The first day was really wiped out by the travelling, as Mum and I had been up since 03:00 BST…

However, the Tuesday was just spent exploring our surroundings, and trying to find somewhere to eat, as the hotel was on a bed & breakfast basis…

We found a really nice bar / restaurant in the bottom end of town – a square called Casement Square. Until a few years ago, it used to be a car park, but the Gibraltarian government decided that they would demolish the car park, and turn it into the local equivalent of an Italian piazza.

The rock itself dominates the skyline – there are very few places on the rock that you cannot see the rock from.

What surprised me, was the fact that there appeared to be houses bulit quite a way up the rock!

The food at the restaurant was really good, and reasonable – my personal favourites were the sizzling fajitas, and the swordfish steak!

Suppose I’d better call it quits – I’ve got things to do around the house.

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Never again!!

What am I saying never again to? Simple. Flying out of London Luton airport, that’s what!

The trip to the airport wasn’t too bad – it was the mess that followed. The ground staff didn’t seem interested, and to be honest, I could see why there have been so many cases of the tabloid papers having reports taking photographs of themselves with various bits of illegal items onboard the aircraft – such as replica hand guns and knives…

What makes me say this? The mere fact that both Mum and I were carrying in our hand luggage what are classed as prohibited items – Mum had a pair of nail clippers, and I had a pair of tweezers.

Then, came the farce that was the gate. Gate? A cattle pen would have more use. The gates were so close together that the various flights seemed to merge into one big lump, and when people thought that you were trying to queue jump, glared, grumbled and generally made things damned difficult to get to the gate so that you could board the flight!

Once you got through the crush, you then had to walk down several flights of stairs, and get herded onto a bus. I swear that if you treated livestock like that, then the RSPCA would be bringing a prosecution against you for animal cruelty!

Then it was the steps upto the aircraft. I could manage, as I’m reasonably nimble on my feet, but poor Mum really struggled, as the steps were quite large, and no-one even thought to ask if she needed any help!

There was one shining spot on the trip outbound – the guy on the check-in desk blocked the row that Mum and I were sitting in, so that Mum could have the aisle seat, and me the window seat... That way, Mum was able to stretch her leg out a bit more and I didn’t have to worry about anyone knocking my arm…

The approach to the runway at Gibraltar is quite an experience – and rather disconcerting when you realise that the runway sticks out into the bay of Gibraltar, and has water on three sides of it! (As you’ll see from later photographs in the various posts!)

The landing though, was one of the worse that I’ve had… I swear that the pilot bounced the aircraft (a B757-200) about four times, before we came to a halt at the airport…

The return trip, I’ll deal with in a later post, as I want to keep this in chronological order…

Suppose I should log off and bog off – I’ve still got to unpack, and get the various bits sorted out…

Back later, if I get the peace and quiet from the moggies...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread