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

Getting in the holiday mood

It's my last day in the office, and I am so glad. I've had enough crap thrown at me this week to last me a blasted month, and all because of one account.

On the positive side, I've been able to spend quite a bit of time with my partner, who has been a real angel. As my shoulder has been giving me an awful lot of trouble, he went to Holland & Barratt (a local health-food / alternative remedy shop), and bought a bottle of Comfrey oil, which he has been kind enough to massage into the shoulder.

But, I will admit to the fact that I'll miss him whilst I'm away, as we spend most evenings talking on the 'phone if we're not together.

Despite this, I'm really looking forward to my holiday, as I've never been to Gibraltar before.. And I've had my share of the rude comments leveled at me by colleagues in the OTR department - most of them being along these lines..

"You going to see your relatives then?"


"I've got relatives buried on Gibraltar, but none living that I know of...."

"I was talking about the monkeys"

Thanks. Nice to know that I'm being likened to a monkey now! And yes - I am aware of the correct name - the "monkeys" are actually Barbary Apes.

Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I am really suffering from a bad case of TNFI......

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Starting to growl...

There are some customers who really make you swear. They complain because you've not done something, and then when you do get the problem sorted, they complain because they weren't ready for the problem to be solved.

To be honest, the faster today is over and done with, the happier I'm going to be, as I'm fed up with being the one that gets the kick in the tail end, because something has gone wrong. Ok - I admit that I'm not perfect - far from it. But it galls me that I'm the one that gets hit from all sides when something doesn't go to plan.

As it stands, it's this one account that gives me all the grief, and to be honest, I'm getting to the stage where I don't want to have anything to do with them at all. But, that's giving in, and that's not what I'm known for - quitting is not my style at all.

But, knowing me, I'll feel better when I've got back off my holiday, and I know that my shoulder is being sorted out.

Ah well, suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but to be honest, I'm suffering from a severe case of TNFI...

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

What a weekend...

After the crap Friday I had, the weekend was just what the tiger needed to feel back on top form.

It started off with me going into Stratford with Carole, Amber and Rachel. Amber was being a little monster, and seemed to be determined to see how many tourists she could trip up / kick. The only thing that kept her under reasonable control, was the threat of not getting any toffee bon-bons!

Then, Saturday night, I was out with Julian and co... And Julian and one person who shall remain nameless (or at least until I get the blackmail photos) sang a bloody good version of Ricky Martin's Livin' la vida loca - complete with the dance steps!

Once we'd left the club, we all headed back to Julian's place, and I admit that I didn't go to bed... I stayed up playing GT4 on the playstation, and I don't mind admitting that I was running on pure adrenalin to keep me going...

Hmm - suppose I'd better think about doing some w*rk, but I'm suffering from TNFI already! Must be getting into holiday mode early.......!

Back when I get chance...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Cor blimey!

Mine is but to post such gems - and this came from my daft hog riding friend!

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.(Hardly seems worth it.)

If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.(Now that's more like it!)
The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps to squirt blood 30 feet out of the body. (O.M.G.!)

A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.********** Man 'O' Man!!!
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death.
(Creepy.) (I'm still not over the pig.)
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories an hour.
(Do not try this at home...... maybe at work.)

The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
("Honey, I'm home. What the....?!")

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
(30 minutes... lucky pig... can you imagine??)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.(I still want to be a pig in my next life... quality over quantity)

Butterflies taste with their feet.(Something I always wanted to know.)

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.(Hmmmmmm........)
Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.(If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference? )

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.(OK, so that would be a good thing....)
A cat's urine glows under a black light.(I wonder who was paid to figure that out?)

Starfish have no brains.(I know some people like that.)

Polar bears are left-handed.(If they switch, they'll live a lot longer.)

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.(What about that pig??)

Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk...

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Getting caught on the hop...

There's nothing like a bit of banter to make me feel brighter... I was away from my desk, and I heard my 'phone bleep, and me being half asleep didn't check the number...

"You didn't recognize my number that time, did you Karen?" came the mocking tone on my 'phone. It was my other half.

"If I'd known it was you, I wouldn't have answered my 'phone."

That made him laugh, and he started having a gentle dig at me because I apparently sounded half asleep! I refrained from saying that I'd been up at 04:30 this morning to go horse-riding!

But, that was my decision, and I don't regret it for a moment, as it was a lovely ride this morning... The birds were starting to sing, and Flame was being an absolute angel - almost as if she realized that I was feeling fragile because my shoulder was (and still is) giving me hell.

Ok - I know that going horse-riding probably wasn't the best thing that I could have done, but I'm not going to give up my horse just yet... Ok - if I have to have the shoulder operated on (and I get a horrible feeling I will do) I'll stop riding, but until it gets to that stage then I'll be in the saddle as much as I possibly can.

Ah well, suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I'm not really in the mood....

Back later if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Still fighting..

Well, Coventry airport's owners are appealing even before the final decision has been made about their cattle shed of a terminal.

I can understand why the locals are getting so upset - Coventry airport used to be just a small airfield, with a few light aircraft and the DC10 from Air Atlantique taking off from there. Now, they're subjected to the noise and smell of a B737 taking off.

The best is yet to come, as the planes from Coventry have a maximum height on takeoff of 1500ft, due to the fact that they are in the same controlled airspace as Birmingham airport!

But, if the reports are true, then the shareholders of the company that owns the airport may force them to sell - much to the delight of the locals, with whom I have great sympathy...

Suppose I should think about doing some more w*rk, but the interest level is practically zero at the moment!

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Back to the fuel protests..

Well, it's started. What am I talking about? Only the panic buying that's going on for fuel. I'm lucky, as I've got 3/4 of a tank of fuel on board the Pug, and Mum's got about the same on her car as well.

The last time the fuel protests happened, my family was lucky, as Dad was on the essential users list, and because of the petrol mowers, we had about 30l of fuel in the garage in steel containers!

Ok - I agree with the fuel protests, as I'm fed up paying extortionate rates for the luxury of having a car, as I'm in a situation where public transport is a total non-starter, as the location of my office, and the mere fact that I have to go out on business means that I need the car.

In an ideal world, I'd have the Pug converted to an alternative fuel, but at the moment, the minute I do anything like that, Peugeot will say that I have invalidated my mechanical & bodywork warranties, and I'm up the proverbial creek without a canoe, let alone a paddle!

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

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Trying to get training for a friend

That's one thing that really bugs me. As I'm the main contact for the OTR side of things in the office, I'm the one that the guys in the field speak to, so that they can get the orders and other stuff sorted out.

Ok - that's not an issue - what really bugs me is the fact that the poor sod who's supposed to be my back-up has had absolutely minimal training, and when I'm out of the office (either on holiday or off sick), the back up is next to non-existent.

So, the pair of us have started to gang up on our line manager, and make him aware of the situation. That's not a problem, as he's quite happy to help out, and has agreed that something needs to be done.

The problem (as far as I'm concerned) is the fact that one of the other members of the department can't see why the guys in the field talk to me instead of the other contact.

Without blowing my own trumpet, I get the impression that the reason that they talk to me, is because they know that things will get sorted out, and that I'll keep them in the loop on what's happening with the order / query that they've thrown my way.

But, as things seem to be happening, I've said that I'll hold fire on doing anything like speaking to my partner, as he knows damned well that I was getting worried about what was going to happen whilst I was away...

Suppose I should log off and bog off - I'm supposed to be working...

Back later if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Now this would be interesting......

READ TEXT FIRST THEN LOOK AT IMAGE.

Tired of getting stuck in slow moving traffic?

Want to have your own lane on the M1/M25/M5/M62?

Simple, tie these balloons to your car.

Belt it down the A1 (or any other road you wish to drive fast) and watch other car drivers freak out and simply get out of your way!

When you get stopped by the police, tell them you thought they were real.





Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

All quiet on the OTR front

Well, things seem to have settled down on the OTR side of things... I've been kept busy sorting out various orders for the guys, and one has even said that as far as he was concerned, today I was walking on water.

Thanks. That's all I need, as you can almost guarantee that it will put the mockers on anything that I try to do for the rest of the day!

Despite that, my friend White Wolf has been e-mailing me, and making me laugh with all sorts of silly jokes - this one being one of my favorites:

This is a quick story about the bond formed between a little girl and a group of building workers.

It's allegedly true and makes you want to believe in the goodness of people and that there is hope for the human race.


A young family moved into a house next door to a vacant building. One day Joe, Steve and a gang of building workers turned up to start building a house on the empty plot.


The young family's 5-year-old daughter naturally took an interest in all the activity going on next door and started talking with the workers.


She hung around and eventually the builders, all with hearts of gold, more or less adopted the little girl as a sort of project mascot.


They chatted with her, let her sit with them while they had tea and lunch breaks, and gave her little jobs to do here and there to make her feel important.


They even gave her very own hard hat and gloves. At the end of the first week they presented her with a pay envelope containing two pounds in 10p coins.


The little girl took her 'pay' home to her mother who suggested that they take the money she had received to the bank the next day to start a savings account.


When they got to the bank the cashier was tickled pink listening to the little girl telling her about her 'work' on the building site and the fact she had a 'pay packet'.


"You must have worked very hard to earn all this" said the bank cashier.


The little girl proudly replied, "I worked all last week with the men building a big house."


"My goodness gracious," said the cashier, "Will you be working on the house again this week, as well?"


The little girl thought for a moment and said........................









"I think so. Provided those c*nts at Jewson deliver the f**king bricks."


Rats - my direct line's ringing - that was one of the worst mistakes I could have made - giving the OTR guys my direct dial!

Back later if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Anyone for flame grilled tiger?

Another day, another foul up with an OTR tyre. This time, it was a crane tyre, and it wasn't something that I knew anything about until one of my colleagues in the OTR department asked who'd told a customer that the tyres were available...

I was able to sort it out, but my colleague was a real angel, and called the customer for me, and explained the situation. The customer (quite understandably) wasn't very happy, but at least it wasn't me getting the ear-ache from the customer for once!

So, to hopefully (emphasis on the hopefully) prevent anymore foul ups on the ordering side of things, I sent the following e-mail...

Hi guys,

If you get a call for a mobile crane tyre of any description, then please speak to either myself or xxx, or if either of us are not available, could you please transfer the call to either xxxx xxxxxx (speed dial xxx) or xxxx xxxxxx (speed dial xxx).

If in doubt, PLEASE speak to either myself or xxx.

So, all I have to do now, is prevent any more hiccups with the OTR side of things!

Suppose I should log off and bog off - my mobile's ringing!

Back tomorrow.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Trying to avoid a toasting...

Ever had one of those days when you wish you'd turned over in bed and gone back to sleep? Well, I'm having one today.

It got off to a bad start when I managed to leave my security pass in the tack room this morning, and forgot to grab the damned thing. Then when I'd gotten into the office, it really hit the blades. And muggins here was directly in the firing line.

A customer had tried to order a particular tyre, and unknown to myself or my colleague in the department, these tyres had already been sold to another customer. So, as the system was showing that these tyres were in stock, the order was on the system, just awaiting confirmation from the customer of the required purchase number..

Only for me to then find that some of the tyres have been taken by someone in logistics for this other customer! I then had the delightful (?) job of telling the customer that I'd been dealing with that the full quantity that he'd requested wasn't available.

Brown smelly stuff and rotating blades anybody? The fun and games then started when my partner came down to see me, and asked what the hell had gone on with this order.

Needless to say, I was less than impressed, and politely pointed out that the order was nothing to do with me, and the first I'd known about it, was when my colleague had asked if I'd place the same size tyre on order!

The reaction was less than friendly, until I pointed out that I'd spoken to very few people in the OTR department, and had spent even less time on the 'phone than normal, as I was trying to sort out my least favorite account, which had a large order that needed placing onto the system, and then sorting out the stock to make sure that there was enough stock to complete the order.

I wasn't very friendly, and made it plain that I just wanted to be left alone tonight, as I was seriously irritated by the fact that he immediately blamed me for the foul up with the damned tyres. But, at least I got an apology from him, so that made me feel slightly better...

So, as I type this, I'm sitting in the study listening to Planet Rock on my DAB digital radio, and am only now starting to cool off.

Suppose I should log off and bog off - I want to grab a bite to eat before I crawl into my pit tonight.

Back tomorrow if I get the chance.

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Things that make me smile..

My daft hog riding friend has been sending me all sorts of silly things, and I've not had chance to post them, so before I get even more earache than I have already, here's a selection of the things that I've been sent:



The other thing that made me smile was this joke:

One day an Irishman, who had been stranded on a deserted island for over 10 years, saw a speck on the horizon. He thought to himself, "It's certainly not a ship."

As the speck got closer and closer, he began to rule out the possibilities of a small boat and even a raft.Suddenly there emerged from the surf a wet-suited black clad figure. Putting aside the scuba gear and the top of the wet suit, there stood a drop-dead gorgeous blonde!

The glamorous blonde strode up to the stunned Irishman and said to him, "Tell me, how long has it been since you've had a cigarette?""Ten years," replied the amazed Irishman.

With that, she reached over and unzipped a waterproofed pocket on the left sleeve of her wetsuit, and pulled out a fresh pack of cigarettes.

He takes one, lights it, and takes a long drag. "Faith and begorrah," said the man, "that is so good, I'd almost forgotten how great a smoke can be!""And how long has it been since you've had a drop of good Irish whiskey?" asked the blonde.

Trembling, the castaway replied, "Ten years."Hearing that, the blonde reaches over to her right sleeve, unzips a pocket,removes a flask and hands it to him.

He opened the flask and took a long drink. "'Tis nectar of the Gods!" stated the Irishman. 'Tis truly fantastic!!!"At this point, the gorgeous blonde started to slowly unzip the long front of her wet suit, right down the middle. She looked at the trembling man and asked, "And how long has it been since you played around?"

With tears in his eyes, the Irishman fell to his knees and sobbed, "Sweet Jesus! Don't tell me that you've got golf clubs in there, too!"

Hmmm... Suppose I'd better get on with some w*rk, but I'm suffering a case of TNFI again..

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread

Taking a tumble..

I knew it was too good to last. I got thrown off Flame on Sunday...

Ok - I'd better explain what happened... Carole, Rachel and myself decided that we were going to spend a day riding in the Malvern hills...

That was ok, and we got there in one piece, and had gotten the horses tacked up, and the others were mounted up, and waiting for me, as I'd been checking to make sure that Flame's girth was tight enough, in order to stop the saddle slipping...

As I went to mount up, there was a lad with one of these stunt kites that makes a screeching noise as it flies, and I'd seen that Flame was not very happy with the noise, so I politely asked if he would wait for me to get on Flame and get moving, before he launched the kite...

Unfortunately for me, he launched the kite when I'd gotten in the saddle, and didn't have my feet on the stirrups... Which was a blessing in a way, as Flame went up on her back legs, I went off backwards, and she shot off like she was in the St Ledger!

Carole was an angel, and went after Flame for me, whilst Rachel made sure that I was ok, as I'd landed flat on my back. Thankfully, I'd got my body armor on, and was only bruised and winded, but that didn't stop me from going mad at the muppet who'd launched the kite...

"I didn't think the horse would react like that" came the dumb reply. Thanks. Even though I'd asked the muppet not to fly the kite, as there was a good chance that something like this could happen...

Thankfully, Flame was unhurt by her run, and I was able to get into the saddle - albeit rather painfully. The rest of the day was un-eventful, and I admit to walking like an old woman when I did dismount from Flame...

Ah well, suppose I should log off and bog off, I'm supposed to be going to see my other half!

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

I'm off to see the sawbones....

Scared. I've been to see the doctor again about my shoulder, and have been told that I need to keep resting the arm (boo, hiss) and that a referral to see an orthopaedic surgeon to get the shoulder sorted out.

Ok - I know that it could have been a lot worse - I could have been told that I needed another jab in my shoulder again, as I reacted so badly to the last two jabs!

So, until I get this sorted, I've been told that the only real treatment that I can have is rest and painkillers... Thankfully, I've not been banned from horse riding - but I accidentally on purpose neglected to mention that I was still riding...

Hmmm - suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I've got a severe case of TNFI...

Back when I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Ever felt like..............

Strangling someone? Well, I'm having one of those moments. It's one of those cases where I got caught a real blinder by a customer.... Because the guy he usually speaks to is on holiday, he decided to call me in the office...

Thanks. What I know about this guy's accounts, you can carve painlessly on my small fingernail, and still have room to spare. So, it was a case of the blind leading the blind clueless (me being blind clueless!)

Thankfully, I was able to get some help - even if it was a case of swallowing my pride a little bit... Simply because it was my partner who's help I was asking for! He said the he would help me out, as I'd admitted that I hadn't got the foggiest how to deal with the query...

I know damned well when I see him tonight, he's going to be making the most of the fact that I had to ask for help, but I'll accept the gentle ribbing that he'll give me tonight...

But that's not the only thing that's caught me on the hop in the past 24 hours.... My best mate called me last night, and as I was a bit dopey (I'd taken some pain killers to stop my shoulder hurting me), it took me a few minutes to guess what he was talking about...

"What's the one thing that I said I would never do?"

Me being dopey, couldn't exactly recall, as there were two things that he said he'd never do - one of them was get married again, and the other was cheat on his partner....

I said it was get married.. And boy was I wrong. It turned out that he's cheated on his partner. And it gets better. It was with his brother's ex-girlfriend.

He said that he needed to speak to someone (namely me) who could give him a few sensible answers, and wouldn't fly off the handle at him.

To be honest, I was too dopey to do anything apart from call him "a muppet", and ask him if he wanted to split up with his partner. The reply was something that I didn't expect...

"I love xxxx to bits, but the trouble is, I can see me and yyyy having a future together... I guess that I've not really been settled since xxxx dumped me via text a few weeks ago, and then got back with me..."

That's all very well, but the trouble that it would cause between him and his brother is not something that I wish to contemplate - as his brother has an explosive temper, and my friend has said this lass is not worth all the hassle that it would cause him...

He said that he would call me tonight, and sit and talk with me, as he needed me to be my normal objective self to help him get his head 'round a few things...

At the end of the day, it's his decision - all I can do is provide a friendly (or not so friendly) ear to bend...

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

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Something that made me laugh, and brightened anotherwise dull day...

These are just a couple of jokes that have made me smile today....

ETHICAL QUESTION:

In light of the news of the so-called human cloning going on, we have to ask ourselves the hypothetical question:

If you pushed your naked clone off the top of a tall building, would it be:

A) murder,
B) suicide, or
C) merely making an obscene clone fall

The other joke was this one:


Interesting Observations


1. Now that food has replaced sex in my life, I can't even get into my own pants.


2. Marriage changes passion. Suddenly you're in bed with a relative.


3. I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it. So I said "Implants?"


4. I don't do drugs. I get the same effect just standing up fast.


5. Sign in a Chinese Pet Store: "Buy one dog, get one flea..."


6. I live in my own little world. But it's OK. They know me here.


7. I got a sweater for Christmas. I really wanted a screamer or a moaner.


8. If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?


9. I don't approve of political jokes. I've seen too many of them get elected.


10. There are two sides to every divorce: Yours and Shithead's.


11. I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life.


12. I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore, I am perfect.


13. Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I have stayed alive.


14. How come we choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America?


15. Isn't having a smoking section in a restaurant like having a peeing section in a swimming pool?


16. Why is it that most nudists are people you don't want to see naked?


17. Snowmen fall from Heaven unassembled.

18. Every time I walk into a singles bar I can hear Mom's wise words: Don't pick that up, you don't know where it's been!"


19. A good friend will come and bail you out of jail...but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn.. that was fun!"-


20. I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!


21. When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just "chunk y dunk."


22. The worst thing about accidents in the kitchen is eating them


23. Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.


24. Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over?


25. Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.


26. My husband says I never listen to him (at least I think that's what he said).


27. Just remember... if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.


28. If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called LABOR!


29. Wouldn't you know it...Brain cells come and brain cells go, but FAT cells live forever.

Hmm - suppose I should call this quits - I'm supposed to be working - not that I have much interest in that at the moment!

Back when I get chance...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Just a little something to make you smile

This was sent to me by a fella, and I get the impression that he was hinting at something!

The FBI had an opening for an assassin. After all the background checks, interviews, and testing were done there were 3 finalists. Two men and a woman. For the final test, the FBI agents took one of the men to a large metal door and handed him a gun.

"We must know that you will follow your instructions no matter what the circumstances. Inside the room you will find your wife sitting in a chair. Kill Her!

The man said, "You can't be serious, I could never shoot my wife."The agent said, "Then you're not the right man for this job. Take your wife and go home."

The second man was given the same instructions. He took the gun and went into the room. All was quiet for about 5 minutes. The man came out with tears in his eyes, "I tried, but I can't kill my wife."

The agent said, "You don't have what it takes. Take your wife and go home."

Finally, it was the woman's turn. She was given the same instructions, to kill her husband. She took the gun and went into the room.

Shots were heard, one after another. They heard screaming,crashing, banging on the walls. After a few minutes, all was quiet. The door opened slowly and there stood the woman. She wiped the sweat from her brow. "This gun is loaded with blanks" she said. "I had to beat him to death with the chair."

MORAL: Women are evil. Don't mess with them

Pass on this advice !!

Hmm - suppose I should think about doing some work, but I have got no interest at all...

Back later, if I get chance...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Joining the MP3 player brigade...

Well, I've done it. I've bought myself an MP3 player. It's a good sized one - 1GB, and I transferred all of the music that I have on my computer (the tracks that I like!), and I've still got free space.

Not that I'm complaining - far from it. I'll be taking it with me when I go on holiday, and also when I travel to Dublin in November, for White Wolf's 30th birthday...

My partner thought I was daft, until he listened to it last night (after I'd copied the music and travelled down to see him), and has now decided that he wants to get one himself, as his taste in music is different to mine - I've got things like AC/DC, Metallica and Edwyn Collins...

Despite this, I'm more than happy, and will be taking it into work to listen to during my lunch-break - that way there's no way that people will be able to disturb me unless I take one of the ear-pieces out of my ear, or my alarm goes off on my 'phone...

Suppose I should think about doing some work, but I'm suffering from a case of severe TNFI........

Back later, if I get chance...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

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

Handing over part of a poisoned chalice

Well, I'm happier than I was. Unfortunately, I've still got to deal with the one account that I hate, but at least it has been lightened a little bit - I'm passing on the other part of the poisoned chalice to one of my colleagues.

The OTR side is being left alone, as I made it very plain that was non-negotiable, and thankfully, it sounds like the feedback that is going to my line manager is very positive (I guess going on the training course was more beneficial than I'd realised)...

However, the reason that I'm being left with part of this damned chalice is because my line manager wants me to re-build my confidence and my professional reputation with other people within the company.

Ah well, as the day draws to a close, I guess that things could have been an awful lot worse...

Time to log off & bog off - it's escape time!

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Getting the Tiger's roar back...

Well, I'm happier than I was yesterday, but that's only because two of the people I really care about have been absolute angels, and helped me get back on my 'paws'.

One of them was my daft hog riding friend, who was a real gem, and made me laugh by telling me about things that he used to do in previous jobs, as well as telling me not to take things too personally - especially where my work is concerned!

The other person was my partner, who came up to see me, and when he realised how down I really was, took me out for a drink, and a chill out at a pub that he knows, in a village between our homes...

I hadn't had anything to eat, simply because when I got home last night, I was far too uptight to eat... So, in theory, I should have been plastered by the time he dropped me off back home last night... But as per normal, the theory didn't follow the actual result - I was stone-cold sober.

Ok - I wouldn't have risked driving, but I was no-where near being drunk, and my partner was a real gent - he made sure that I was in the house ok before he left, and sent me a text message to let me know that he was home ok.

Time to call this entry quits - I'm supposed to be going into a meeting in a couple of minutes...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Changing from wood to steel

Well, I've hit the bottom, and have now been given the ammunition to fight back - with true tiger-like vengance.

The thing that has really annoyed me more than anything else, is that I've been blamed for stock not being sent in, when the details that I have to hand state that the tyres are there for the customer!

Whilst I don't mind admitting that I'm far from perfect, I object to getting blamed for something that is beyond my control. Ok - I'm not slinging boulders / bricks or anything else for that matter, but it just irritates me that I'm the one getting the knife (or machete) in the back.

But, I guess that at this moment in time, the best thing I can do is bide my time, and then use the ammunition that I have at the right time....

Nearly time for lunch - not that I'm in the mood to eat!

Back later, if I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

It's not easy when you don't know why...

Well, I guess I do know why I feel so down. My friend died at 10:30 yesterday morning, and I've made a boo-boo with a delivery - it should have been a collection!

The worst part is, I feel like I've let everyone down - including myself, and I can hardly type for the tears that keep welling up in my eyes.

My line manager has been a real angel - he's realised that I'm starting to crack under the strain of my workload, and has said that he wants to talk to me tomorrow about what the team can do to help me get back to my old self.

I've already admitted that I'm quite willing to relinquish the one account that gives me so much grief, but I'm not going to lose the OTR side of things, not when I've done so much damned work to bring my knowledge base up to a level where I can be of some use to the guys in the field.

Thankfully, he's said that he's happy with me doing the OTR side of things, as he knows how much I enjoy working on that, but there are several bits that he thinks I could use some help with - and he's determined to avoid allowing this one account to think that they've got more power than they really have, and help me re-build my confidence back up to the level it was before I got crushed by everything hitting me all at once.

Time to get on with some work - I'm determined to clear my name on where some of the crap is concerned!!

Back later.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Miracles do happen...

Well, I've been able to beg / borrow / steal the six tyres that my colleague needed to help his customer with. I was joking about him owing me a very large G & T when he next sees me, as I've saved him from getting some serious grief from the customer.

But the only way I could do it, was to enlist the help of two of the other guys in the field, and ask if I could 'borrow' the tyres that were supposed to be going out to their customers.

Then, once I'd gotten the tyres, it was just a case of making sure that no-one-else could swipe them off me, and calling my colleague to let him know that I'd gotten the tyres.

Hmm - suppose I shoud call this entry quits - I've got work to do, as I want to be out of here on time tonight...

Back when I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Put my head on the block for you? No chance.

The title sums up my feelings about a request. Ok - the person who's made the request is someone whom I have a lot of time for, but not when it means that I'll be the one to get lynched.

Why do I say this? Simple. Because the tyres that he wants are on a back order, and there's not enough stock to clear all the back orders. The crux of the matter being the mere fact that I've been told by my colleague in logistics - trying to complete the order would be a case of "which customer do you want to piss off?"

Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have an issue, as I would call my normal contact, and get the go-ahead that way. But as my contact is on vacation for two weeks, I'm unwilling to put my head on the block, and get sliced up because I've bounced a customer (or two) to help this guy out.

So, all I can do is wait and see what response I get to the voicemail I've left, and see what happens from there. I have got a get-out clause that involves a director giving the go-ahead, but I'm keeping that in reserve, as I really don't want to alienate the rest of the guys that I work with, just to help out one fella.

Suppose I should look like I'm working, but to be honest, I've got no interest at all....

Back later, if I get the chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Life never seems to go smoothly...

Well, this week has been somewhat of a roller-coaster for me. And for once, it's not my family that's suffering - it's a long standing friend of mine and Mum's who's suffering.

The lady had a stroke on Sunday, and her family is understandably devastated, especially when they get told that she won't be going home from hospital. I'm of the opinion that the lady is a tough ol' buzzard and that she'll pull though - and have said the same thing to her son, which made him laugh.

We (her son and I) are going to visit his Mum in hospital tomorrow night, and my other half has told me not to worry about going over to his place after I get back from the hospital, if I don't feel like I can face the drive over there, but he'll be on the end of a 'phone if I need to talk to someone.

On a positive note, my friend White Wolf is escaping to Ireland to start his new job with Apple in Cork. He leaves the UK shores tonight, and has said that he'll be out of contact for a while, whilst he gets himself settled in, and sees how the land lies...

So, in honor of his escape, I've been able to find this Irish joke....

Paddy the famous Irishman is driving home after downing a few at the local pub. He turns a corner and much to his horror he sees a tree in the middle of the road.


He swerves to avoid it and almost too late realizes that there is yet another tree directly in his path.

He swerves again and discovers that his drive home has turned into a slalom course, causing him to veer from side to side to avoid all the trees.


Moments later he hears the sound of a police siren and brings his car to a stop. The officer, approaches Paddy's car and asks him what on earth he was doing.


Paddy tells his story of the trees in the road when the officer stops him mid sentence and says,


"Fer Chris sakes, Paddy, that's yer air freshener!"

Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I really have a case of TNFI....

Back when I get chance...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Something that made me laugh....

This got sent to me by my daft friend - he said that it was appropriate, given the fact that I'm an F1 fan....

The Mclaren Formula 1 Team have sacked their entire pit crew yesterday. The announcement followed Mclaren's decision to take advantage of the UK Government's Youth Opportunity scheme and employ people from Liverpool.

The decision to hire them was brought on by a recent documentary on how unemployed youths from the Toxteth area were able to remove all the wheels in less than 6 seconds, using only a bottle jack, a Halfords multi-purpose wheel-brace and 4 bricks, whereas Mclaren's existing crew can only do it in 8 seconds with millions of dollars worth of high tech equipment.

Tony Blair went on record as saying this was a bold move by the Mclaren management, which demonstrated the international recognition of the UK under New Labour. As most races are won and lost in the pits, Mclaren now have a greater advantage over every team.

However, Mclaren may have got more than they bargained for... At the crew's final practice session, the Chirpy Scousers successfully changed the tyres in under 6 seconds, but then within another 25 seconds they had re-sprayed, re-badged, and sold the vehicle to the Ferrari team for 8 cans of Tennants Super, half a kilo of Charlie and some photos of Schumacher's Mrs in the shower.

Hmm - suppose I should think about doing some work, but I'm not really interested at the moment!

Back when I get chance...

Karen

I walk where others fear to tread

At last - Probate has been granted!!

There's nothing like a message giving good news to brighten a crappy day up. When I got home, there was a message on the answerphone from the family solicitor to say that we've finally got probate granted.

Ok - I know in a previous post, I said that I wouldn't get the family solicitor involved, but as it turned out, it was probably the smartest move that Mum and I could have made, as the Probate court seemed determined to declare that Dad died intestate - when both Mum and I knew that there was a valid will.

I know this sounds horrible, but as an only child, when Mum dies, I'll inherit the whole estate. But for the moment, as far as I'm concerned, taking anything from Dad's estate would feel wrong and I would feel like I was profiting from Dad's death.

Hmm - suppose I should call this entry quits - I'm supposed to be going my partner's for dinner...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Damned if I do, damned if I don't...

That sums up the way I'm feeling at work at this moment in time. One of the accounts I have the misfortune to look after seem to take great delight in picking holes in every little thing that I do, and I'm getting more than a little fed up.

Ok - I'm partly responsible for a couple of hiccups - but the other bits have been beyond my sphere of influence. Despite this, I'm still the one that gets kicked in the teeth, and I'm getting seriously fed up.

It's said that the customer is always right - this one is a right pain in the ****, and I'm getting really fed up with the niggles that keep arising on this one account.

It wouldn't be so bad, but as well as dealing with them, I'm the main contact in the office for the earthmover / industrial tyres, and most of the guys in the field seem to prefer dealing with me, so that means that I'm having to keep my eye on what's happening with those orders as well!

Ok - I haven't got a problem with that, but it irritates the c*rp out of me when people outside of the department start kicking off because of an error on my part, and blame me for someone-else's mistakes as well.

Ah well, enough grumbling for today.... Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I'm suffering from a severe case of TNFI - totally no ******g interest.

Back when I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Getting back in the swing...

Well, I'm back to the posting habit, and there's been so much going on my my life, I just don't quite know where to start!

After I'd spoken to my best mate, I didn't hear anything, and thought that he'd pulled some little dolly bird, and was making the most of his time with her... Nothing could have been futher from the truth!

It turned out that his estranged girlfriend contacted him a couple of hours after we'd spoken, and said that she wanted to see him, and that was it - they were back together, and he didn't go out clubbing after all...

As for me, well things are moving along at a gentle pace, which suits me in a way, as I'm trying to recover from my shoulder injury (I've had the second jab in the joint) and have been banned from horse riding for the next 2 weeks - which is driving me barmy.

My significant other (who has asked to remain namless) has also asked me not to go to any track days whilst I'm banned from horse riding, as he said that the horse riding ban would be pointless if I was slinging the Peugot 'round a racetrack.

Admittedly, I can see his point, but I have to admit, the slow pace of life that these enforced bans have imposed on me is starting to get to me a bit. But, I'm lucky enough to have people life my daft Hog riding friend to keep me sane, and make me laugh with all sorts of revolting jokes - this one being one of the cleaner ones!

Why I Fired My Secretary.....


Last week was my birthday and I didn't feel very well waking up that morning. I went downstairs for breakfast hoping my wife would be pleasant and say "Happy birthday!", and possibly have a present for me. As it turned out, she barely said good morning, let alone "Happy Birthday."


I thought... Well, that's marriage for you, but the kids will remember. My kids came into breakfast and didn't say a word. So when I left for the office I was feeling pretty low and somewhat despondent.

As I walked into my office, my secretary Jane said, "good morning, boss, happy birthday!" It felt a little better that at least some had rembered.


I worked until one o'clock and then Jane knocked on my door and said, "You know, it's such a beautiful day outside, and it's your birthday, let's go out to lunch, just you and me." I said, "Thanks
Jane, that's the greatest thing I've heard all day. Let's go!"


Wen went to lunch, but we didn't go where we normally would go. We dined instead at a little place with a provate table. We had two martinis each and I enjoyed the meal tremendously.


On the way back to the office, Jane said, "You know, it's such a beautiful day... We don't need to go back to go back to the office do we?" I responded, "I guess not. What do you have in mind?" She said,

"Let's go back to my apartment."

After arriving at her apartment, Jane turned to me and said, "Boss, if you don't ming I'm going to step into the bedroom for a moment. I'll be right back."

"Ok." I nervously replied

She went into the bedroom and, after a couple of minutes she came out carrying a huge birthday cake... Followed by my wife, kids and dozens of my friends and co-workers, all singing "Happy Birthday."


And I just sat there...


On the couch...


Naked.


Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but I've got to admit, I've got no interest at all, but I guess that's what comes of working on a nice sunny day!

Back when I get chance...

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread

Appearances can be deceiving…

I’ve only managed to get about 2 hrs sleep last night – for several reasons. The main one being the fact that I was on the ‘phone to my friend last night…

It turned out that he’d been having problems for a while, and they managed to get things sorted out for a couple of days, then things would start to slide back to where they were before they tried to sort thing out.

In the end, he said that it was a relief when she sent him a text message to say that she wanted to call it quits, and didn’t want him to contact her. I will admit, I was more than a little surprised that he was so rational, as I though that he’d been really keen on her…

He’s also made plans to go out on the pull on Saturday night, and has said that he plans on getting himself back into the field of play sooner rather than later.

So, we sat up talking until the extremely small hours – and finally called it quits at about 03:20…

Hmmm - my phone's ringing... Guess I should think about answering it...

Back when I get chance.

Karen.

I walk where others fear to tread.

So much for a happy ending...

And no – it’s not me that’s gone splat in a relationship. It’s my best mate. He sent me a text message earlier today, to say that his girlfriend had just dumped him by text.

To say I was surprised was an understatement, as I was under the impression that things were going really well…

He seems to be coping ok, but I’ll reserve judgment until I speak to him tonight, as he said that he’ll call me later and let me know what’s happened, and fill me in on other bits and pieces…

Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk, but my heart’s not really in it, as my partner is going away for a couple of days on business…

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread.

Back from my travels – Part IV - The road home

The final day of our stay, Mum and I went to the Fleet Air Arm museum at Yeovilton - where one of the Concorde prototypes was located.


Most of the museum was poorly lit, and I admit that the date on the camera was set wrong - I'd neglected to check this when I selected this feature!!

Some of the display were quite good - I loved the display in the second hall, where the WWII aircraft were - the photograph below being one of my favorites:


However, I admit that my real favorite display was Concorde.



I have to admit, seeing the aircraft up close was a real treat, and I didn't realise just how narrow the aisle was!

As this aircraft was the prototype, there was still the test equipment on-board...


But the real surprise was the size of the cockpit!


The outside of the aircraft was just as beautiful as I'd always remembered:


Hmmm - time to call this entry quits - don't want to blot my copy book by getting caught blogging instead of working!

Back when I get chance.

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

Back from my travels – Part II – the Eden project…

On Tuesday, Mum and I travelled from our overnight stopping point at Barnstaple, to Bodmin, where we’d planned to visit the Eden Project at St Austell.

This is the first thing that you see as you enter the Eden Project - the Eden Horse. It's a driftwood sculpture, and it's one of those things that sticks in the mind...

As Mum and I had gotten what they call fast track tickets, it meant that we didn't have to queue up to get our admission sticker. Once we’d gotten our admission sticker, the Biomes came into view…

The Live 8 stage was still in place - it was located in an outside exhibition area, and behind it, the Tropical Biome on the left, and the Temperate Biome on the right…

As the Eden project was built in the remains of a quarry, the walk down would have tired Mum out, so we got the Land train down to the biomes. This land train was a series of carriages (of a fashion) pulled by a tractor! (They're in the top left hand corner of the picture below)

Once we got to bottom, we saw the second of the things that will always stick in my mind – the bumble bee statue!

As we got into the main entrance, we had the option of going right to the Temperate biome, and left to the Tropical Biome – we opted for the Tropical Biome.

The humidity was an awful lot higher than either Mum or myself could remember it being and this was confirmed by one of the guides who said that the humidity hadn’t been as high as this for a couple of years!

But, I managed to achieve one of my ambitions: - and that was get to the top of the stairs of the biome, and gets a view of things from the top!

At the top, there was the most welcome thing of all – a waterfall!


I will admit to standing in front of the waterfall as I took the picture and enjoying the spray that came off it – wonderfully cooling!

But that wasn’t the reason that I’d gone up there. I’d wanted to take some ‘photos of the Biome from a viewpoint that I’d not been able to manage in the past…

This shows the side of the quarry that the biomes are situated in - as well as showing the mist that was swirling in the top of the Biome...

 This shot shows just how lush the foliage really was - the view was something to behold!

This shot shows Pete the Panther - and I thought his expression was really sweet!

These are the famous Amazon waterlillys - the full sized leaf can hold a small child!

Then, it was into the Temperate Biome - which tends to be far more seasonal than the Tropical Biome.. Not to mention cooler and more comfortable to explore!


The Temperate Biome had a real mix of planting schemes, with plants from various regions of the world...
It also had an exhibit of vines -with statues in it, called The Rites of Diyonisus


There was also a waterfall in the Temperate Biome, but as the heat wasn't as great, I was able to appreciate the beauty a little more...


Unlike the Tropical Biome, the Temperate Biome had quite a few statues - this one made me smile - they're pigs.....


Then, it was out of the Biomes, and head for the outdoors...


But the one thing (apart from the Bumble Bee statue) that took my breath away was this:


It's amazing to see just what was used to make this statue - I was able to identify about 6 different items.

When we got back to the main entrance area, there was an announcment over the tannoy to say that London had won the 2012 Olympics... There were some French tourists in the same area as Mum and myself, and they looked really sick - as Paris had been expected to win!

Hmm... Suppose I should think about doing some w*rk....

Back later, if I get the chance...

Karen.
I walk where others fear to tread