Too wired to sleep, but I’m exhausted…

I’ve got the worst of both worlds. I’m sitting here at my partner’s computer at 02:00 BST, as I’m too damned wired to sleep, after everything that has gone on this week, but equally, I'm mentally and phyically exhausted.

My partner has been a real angel, and has treated me like a princess. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t object to that – it’s nice to be spoilt occasionally, but I’m one of these peculiar people who prefers to fight her own battles, and it still rankles that I’ve let myself get so damned wound up over one account.

You think I need you but I don’t
You think I’ll break down but I won’t
And you’ve had everything you’re gonna get from me
Saw your pleasure in my pain
And you released me from my chains
And I woke up to my own insanity
Waiting for changes
That were never gonna come

So, starting from next week, I’m going to put all this crap behind me, and move on. Ok – I admit that it’s not going to be easy, as I’m going to attend my friend’s funeral next Friday. But, with the love and help from my partner and my friends, I should be able to survive, and start thriving again.

Now onto something that I found on BBC on-line – that made me smile…

A frog species which had a distinct Norfolk accent, but which became extinct in England in the 19901s is being reintroduced.

About 70 northern pool frogs – one of Europe’s rarest species – will be reintroduced to Norfolk by English Nature and partners on Friday.

The frog was thought to be a European import, but researchers have now found they are native to East Anglia.

Recordings of mating Norfolk frogs show they had a characteristic inflection.

Archaeological investigations revealed pool frog remains around old Saxon sites in Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire.

But fenland drainage led to the frog’s extinction before its native status was recognised. The pool frogs released on Friday were captured in a wildlife rich region in Uppsala in Sweden earlier this week.

The frogs will be released at a secret location near Thetford in Norfolk, to guard against theft by amphibian collectors.

Habitats at the site, including special ponds called pingos, have been restored by the Forestry Commission over the last few years.

English Nature’s amphibian specialist, Jim Foster, said: “Piecing together what happened to pool frogs has proved to be a real detective story.

“The frog’s distinctive Norfolk accent, the buried remains and genetic studies all provided crucial clues.

“It has taken nearly 10 years of research, involving people across Europe, to get to the bottom of this mystery and today is the culmination of all that effort”

Part of me thinks that the people who did this research have way too much time on their hands, but who am I to comment?

Suppose I should log off and bog off – I’ve got to get some sleep in what remains of the night…

Back later.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Back from my travels - Part III - The road to Taunton

On Thursday, after Mum and I had been to the Eden project, we decided that we would stay in Taunton so that I could go to the Fleet Air Arm museum at Yeovilton - where Concorde had been taken to...

Normally, the route would have been the A30, straight to Taunton - all dual carrigeway. Ok - there's nothing wrong with that, apart from the fact that it's as boring as hell for both the driver (Mum) and the passenger (me).

So, we decided to go across Dartmoor - right past Dartmoor jail!

Them, once we were off Dartmoor, we did use part of the A30... And alongside, were several windfarms. To be honest, I can see why the locals object - the turbines aren't the prettiest of things to look at...

I also managed to get another photograph - not bad from a car doing 70mph...

However, any joy that I felt on my holiday was cut off at the pass, when I turned on the news, and saw that London had been attacked. How these people can claim to be doing this in the name of Islam is beyond me, as Islam preaches peace - not violence!

Hmm... Suppose I should call this entry quits - I'm supposed to be working.

Karen

I walk where others fear to tread

Talk about shooting youself in the foot...

And that's just what the F1 circus has managed to do to itself, by running the farce that is the USA Grand Prix. Ok - I agree with the principal that the drivers shouldn't race if there are safety concerns, but surely there could have been some kind of agreement reached that meant the entire field started the race - and not just the Bridgestone runners.

But, all this has done is kill off Formula 1 in America - as no-one is going to risk going to the race next year (if they even hold a race at Indianapolis), thus leaving the American public with CART and Indy-racing.

Don't get me wrong - I enjoy both types of racing, but if it came to a choice of going to watch a CART, Indy or F1 race, I'd choose the F1 race, simply because that's one of my real passions.

Speaking (or rather typing) of which, I've been able to get another ticket for the British GP at Silverstone for my other half, as he said that he'd be interested in going, and had been pestering me to get him a ticket.

It's actually worked out rather well, as the race is the weekend that we come back from our break in the West country, so it means that neither of us will have to go belting out of work on the Friday night, in order to get down to Silverstone with the rest of the gang that I go to the race with...

On a different note, this will be the last blog entry for a few days or so, as I'm going on a training course tomorrow, and won't be back near a computer with an internet connection until Friday night.

Time to call this entry quits - I've got to get the rest of my stuff sorted out for the trip tomorrow.

Back on Friday...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

South East Asia Earthquake & Tsunami...

I guess I should mention this, as I will admit, this has had me glued to the 24 hour news channel (BBC News 24 - very imaginative name!)

I was heartbroken to hear that Sri Lanka was hit - this was a place that I had planned on returning to, as I'd enjoyed several family holidays there when I was a lot younger (ok - about 12 years old!) And for once in my life, I am going to give to an overseas charity appeal - as I know that the affected countries need all the help that they can get.

Time to call this quits - I'm being yelled for.

Back whenever..

Karen.

Do spiders scream when they see a big fat hairy human in the bath?