Still in shock

“What you cannot escape, you must fight; what you cannot fight, you must endure"

I guess this sums up my feelings at this precise moment in time. Ok – just after 7am on a dark and cold Sunday morning. I’ve spoken to my friend, and she’s got to go for a MRI scan on Tuesday, to see what is causing the deafness in her left ear. She’s understandably terrified. So am I, because from the little bit of information that I have been able to gleam from the internet, it’s bloody scary.

The doctor thinks it might be something called Acoustic neuroma which is apparently a slow growing tumour on the nerve of hearing, and is quite rare. Thanks. That doesn’t really make me feel any better, but until she gets the results, neither of us will know what this hearing loss has been caused by.

Aside from the scary stuff, my beloved was involved in the second Ride to the Wall yesterday.This has become almost an annual pilgrimage by bikers from all over the UK, to the national memorial arboretum in Airewas.

According to the BBC website, there were over 5,000 bikes there, including a serving major general in uniform, who had ridden his Harley from Aldershot. This idea is not only to raise funds for the arboretum, but to show respect to the fallen in every war since the end of the Second World War, to the current conflict in Afghanistan.

Speaking of which, or rather typing of the war, there was one of the best quotes I have ever read in the paper yesterday.

I am not shaking your hand, Mr Blair. You’ve got blood on it

This was the quite understandable (and in my opinion quite acceptable) reaction of a bereaved father who was at the service of rememberance that was held in St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday.

Apparently, Mr Blair’s bodyguards ushered him away, and he looked visibly shocked. Good. Nothing like having it rammed home to you by someone who has lost their son in an illegal war. I guess this was just the “icing on the cake” as they say, as he’d already been criticised during the sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

If I’m honest, I’d love to see Mr Blair in the Hague. Preferably in the dock, being charged with war crimes, because the second invasion of Iraq was illegal. Shrub (George W. Bush) just wanted to go one better than daddy, and remove Saddam Hussein from power.

Don’t get me wrong – Saddam was no saint by any stretch of the imagination, but if there was to be regime change, it should have been done with the sanction of the UN – not by a blood thirsty little war monger and his pet.

Ah well - time to call this quits - I've got bits and pieces to sort out today.

Back when I can - probably tomorrow.

Karen

Now some things you hold on to - and some you just let go
Seems like the ones that you can't have
Are the ones that you want most

Escaping on the 'Hog...

And no - it's not me. It's my best mate. The lucky sod has gone to Ireland for the European Hog ralley, and has been sending me little messages to let me know how he's getting on...

The first one arrived on my 'phone at 11:25...

Just stopped for lunch and a pee break - it's f*****g freezing! Speak soon.

Diddums. What I didn't realise was that he'd left home at 04:30, and that was the reason for the early lunch break!

The second message made me smile:-

Hey you, on board ship out on top deck in the sun but leavin' late. Take care.

Rather him than me - I hate boats - the smallest swell has me hanging over the edge of the boat throwing up, and being generally very unwell. But, I will admit that I wish that I was able to go with him as it sounded like it was going to be a real scream...

He sent me a third message just before 21:00 to let me know that the group had arrived in Wexford ok, and that things seemed to be ok, and then I got a final message after midnight, asking me if I could call him...

Not a problem, and we had a quick chat, as he was shattered and I had to be at work this morning.

But, at least I know he's ok, and he's promised to show me the pictures when he gets back, as he said that the bikes were incredible...

Guess I should get on with some w*rk, but I'm still half asleep, and suffering from a severe case of TNFI...

Back later - if I'm still awake!

Karen.
Learning to fly, but I don't have wings

Bored and in pain....

Typical. I've completed all my work, and I'm now scratching around,trying to find something to do. But, there has been one bright spot today - I was able to talk to my daft friend.

He had escaped from the office (his phrase - not mine) and we were laughing and joking about all sorts of things - including him being rude about my lack of height.

He's off to darkest Ireland in June, for the European Hog Rally, and I was teasing him about it, and then he turned the tables on me by asking if I got mistaken for a leprechaun (because of my height (or lack of it!))

I was less than impressed, and said that when we met up, I was going to get my revenge, only for him to say that it was the year of being nice to him! I grinned, and said that I wasn't planning on doing anything nasty to him - he would be begging for pleasure!

That made the pair of us laugh, and the conversation went downhill from there!

Hmm - I should really call this entry quits, as I'm supposed to be working, not blogging!

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen

Learning to fly, but I don't have wings