...okay Nic, now I know how you feel. Although to be honest this was not really Blogger's fault...I hit the wrong option for my latest post and lost the lot...>:-(
I had been merrily rambling on about the nice sunny weather, my poor tree, housework, scrapping - just the world in general (lol) and then, zap, ALL GONE...
Tempted to go and curl-up with a hot chocolate and feel very sorry for myself but I really must get that washing done...see how things go and I might be back later...
Sunday, 21 January 2007
Saturday, 20 January 2007
And the results so far...
High wind 1 - Bird Table 0 (my lovely locally made bird table is looking very sorry for its self)
Gale force 1 - Plum Tree 0 (think this one was more of an own-goal as the tree has been looking rather poorly for the last year or two)
:o)
Gale force 1 - Plum Tree 0 (think this one was more of an own-goal as the tree has been looking rather poorly for the last year or two)
:o)
Friday, 19 January 2007
Thank God It's Friday...
...oh dear, I've just remembered that this was the title of a film, one of those 70's disco thingies, no real story-line but lots of disco music (do I make things worse and admit that I went to see it...? or even worse still, I've got the LP somewhere...). Hey, it was trendy at the time (I think) everyone was making these films - even ABBA!
Still, I digress. The end of another commuting week (promise not to go on like I did yesterday) in which Mother Nature did her best to keep us all at home...and British Rail contributed it's fair share to the process. Weather was quite nice today but even that couldn't help British Rail get it's act together. You know something is not quite right when you come round the corner and there are crowds of people standing on the steps of the station :o( afterall, that's what the platforms are for...unfortunately, you can't see the main indicator board from the platform!
Upon entering the ticket hall it was clear that there was a problem. All the Pitsea/Southend bound services were listed with that very pretty blue word by the side of them - cancelled, and London bound trains didn't look as if they were fairing much better. It was now 8.07am and the 8.02 was shown as 'expected 8.25', the 8.12 was nowhere to be seen (found out later that it had just disappeared from the board like all the services before it) but looking more promising was the 8.24 (my normal train :o)), shown as ON TIME - yes! - NO!!!!! Clock ticks by and it is now 8.25 but the 8.24 is still shown as on time. Board refreshes, you know - screen goes blank and then the data slowly re-appears from the left, and the next London bound train is...8.41???? Wait-a-mo! what has happened to the 8.02 & the 8.24? I am reliably informed by my co-wouldbe travellers that this little trick has been performed at regular intervals since just after 7.00am.
Well, unlike last night, we had staff present - though what good it did... as the guy at the barrier just grinned idiotically everytime someone asked him a question, occasionally he got energetic and shrugged his shoulders but actually provide any info, no way. Ticket office staff had it easier - they were behind plate-glass and there is a very convenient back room that they kept disappearing into. Phonecall to work - "think I'm going to be late - if I get there at all, speak to you later".
8.40, it's cutting it fine if this one is going to arrive and then the magical sound...the crossing alarm as the barriers come down. Now consider this...there has been no service for close on 1 & 3/4 hours, many folk have given up and gone home but there is still a considerable number of bodies milling about - short, four coach train arrives (and it's already half full). Huh! I was prepared, I know this service, I'm standing just at the right place for boarding at the front of the train AND I get a seat, way to go.......!!! However, by the time the train pulls away I have a shoulderbag pressed into my right ear and I am already considering how I am going to get to the doors, should we ever make it to West Ham >:o( With the exception of some rather colourful comments from folk trying to get on (lol) at each of the stops along the way, the journey was fairly uneventful. Arrived at work only 20 mins late.....
Homeward journey this evening, boring, train was on time (through train, no changing) got a seat, arrived home without any problems - now where is the fun in that..............??????
Still, I digress. The end of another commuting week (promise not to go on like I did yesterday) in which Mother Nature did her best to keep us all at home...and British Rail contributed it's fair share to the process. Weather was quite nice today but even that couldn't help British Rail get it's act together. You know something is not quite right when you come round the corner and there are crowds of people standing on the steps of the station :o( afterall, that's what the platforms are for...unfortunately, you can't see the main indicator board from the platform!
Upon entering the ticket hall it was clear that there was a problem. All the Pitsea/Southend bound services were listed with that very pretty blue word by the side of them - cancelled, and London bound trains didn't look as if they were fairing much better. It was now 8.07am and the 8.02 was shown as 'expected 8.25', the 8.12 was nowhere to be seen (found out later that it had just disappeared from the board like all the services before it) but looking more promising was the 8.24 (my normal train :o)), shown as ON TIME - yes! - NO!!!!! Clock ticks by and it is now 8.25 but the 8.24 is still shown as on time. Board refreshes, you know - screen goes blank and then the data slowly re-appears from the left, and the next London bound train is...8.41???? Wait-a-mo! what has happened to the 8.02 & the 8.24? I am reliably informed by my co-wouldbe travellers that this little trick has been performed at regular intervals since just after 7.00am.
Well, unlike last night, we had staff present - though what good it did... as the guy at the barrier just grinned idiotically everytime someone asked him a question, occasionally he got energetic and shrugged his shoulders but actually provide any info, no way. Ticket office staff had it easier - they were behind plate-glass and there is a very convenient back room that they kept disappearing into. Phonecall to work - "think I'm going to be late - if I get there at all, speak to you later".
8.40, it's cutting it fine if this one is going to arrive and then the magical sound...the crossing alarm as the barriers come down. Now consider this...there has been no service for close on 1 & 3/4 hours, many folk have given up and gone home but there is still a considerable number of bodies milling about - short, four coach train arrives (and it's already half full). Huh! I was prepared, I know this service, I'm standing just at the right place for boarding at the front of the train AND I get a seat, way to go.......!!! However, by the time the train pulls away I have a shoulderbag pressed into my right ear and I am already considering how I am going to get to the doors, should we ever make it to West Ham >:o( With the exception of some rather colourful comments from folk trying to get on (lol) at each of the stops along the way, the journey was fairly uneventful. Arrived at work only 20 mins late.....
Homeward journey this evening, boring, train was on time (through train, no changing) got a seat, arrived home without any problems - now where is the fun in that..............??????
Chrissie...
...as you asked sooo nicely, here you are - CHIPS
(perhaps you can add these to the 'virtual pom-poms')
he, he, he....... :o)
Thursday, 18 January 2007
Couldn't organise...
...a bun fight in a bakery (I believe that is the polite way of saying it).
It has been windy today, there's a surprise, it's been windy for the last few days but granted, it was a bit gustier today - so everything comes to a halt through lack of planning or failure to implement contingency arrangements. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this...
Good old British Rail...no trains, no explanations, no help!!! :o(
Due to the adverse weather conditions (gosh, I'm even sounding like a station announcement) I had been checking travel details on the Internet at work. Afterall, tonight was to be Nicola's first crop of 2007 and I didn't want to get caught up in any rail disruption. The best laid plans of mice & men...
BBC travel advised that my line had problems between Barking & Grays (good old Tilbury loop on the Fenchurch Street line) and could be subject to delays. So I set off for home early - left work about 4.45pm, normally a 40min journey, plenty of leeway for some delay - no problem. Even if there were hold-ups I should still be home in time to grab the car and get to the crop on time <#noise that the computer on family fortunes makes when the answer is wrong#> First stage of journey; Stratford to West Ham via Jubilee Line - slight delay but arrive with about five minutes to spare for a train that would take me all the way home without changing <# that noise again#> WRONG. Indicator board shows the time as fast approaching 5pm but we are awaiting services that should have arrived almost two hours previously. Next train due, only a couple of minutes to wait, will only go as far as Grays (three stops from home) but it'll be most of the way home. The second train listed would take me right home but there was another 10 minutes to wait and when there are problems.................you don't take the chance! Wait on platform (short trains this time of day) horrid drizzle and it's a bit blowy but nothing out of the ordinary, glance at indicator board and the data does a flip - train 2 is now train one and train one (that was) has been further delayed. Great, things are looking up, no broken journey, and as the thought goes through my mind the train pulls in. Not too crowded but standing room only, just the same. Arrive at the next station, still standing but I'm on my way home so who cares... Just as the doors close a tannoy announcement is made, something to do with Grays but the doors are closed and we are pulling away before anyone can hear the message. Two stops later I get a seat. Not the fastest of journeys but I'm on my way. I thumb through my latest craft magazine and wonder if I've got a suitable photo for the crop page that Nicola has prepared...
Arrive at Grays (only three stops to home, yipeee) folk get off, but folk on the platform are hesitating about getting on - not a good sign. The doors close but we don't pull away. Everyone then starts straining to hear what is going on the drivers cab. From his side of the converstaion he is not a happy bunny and he repeatedly tells whoever he is talking to that he has a train full of people and needs to know what is going on. Then we heard the dreaded words "so I'm to terminate the service here and return to London..." The intercom crackled to life and he very apologetically asked us to leave the train - he believed that a replacement bus service was in operation for us to continue our journey (believed? why didn't he know, why hadn't he been told for sure). Out into the drizzle and where are the staff? Who is going to tell us about these wonderful buses? Quickly making his way to the underpass to the other platform we saw a member of staff trying to beat a hasty retreat - too late, we got him. Although what help he was is still being debated by the jury... When asked where the buses were he asked where we wanted to go and then waved a hand vaguely to indicate the other side of the street.
There was actually a bus sitting waiting at the end of the line of bus-stops and not too many people waiting to get on, unfortunately, neither was there a driver for the bus. When you are uncertain what is going on you tend to lose track of the time but it couldn't have been too long when a second bus appeared (and from somewhere so did the driver of the first bus).
Although the distance involved to get home from Grays is not huge we had three stations to call at all separated by dark, wet, country lanes. I phoned Diane and told her I might be late for the crop. As we pulled up at Tilbury Town we saw a train pull out heading in the direction that we were travelling - what was going on. The driver saw it too and was not happy as he had been called out to provide an emergency service but the trains appeared to be running. We continued.
The next stop is East Tilbury. This is a great place, there is only one road in and the only place that it leads to is the Thames, so the bus had to turn around in order to head for my destination which was next. To get into East Tilbury the road crosses the railway line - you know, flashing lights, barriers and all that stuff and yes, we got caught at the barriers on our return. But you are on a Rail replacement bus, I hear you say, why do the barriers need to close if there are no trains. Once again, WRONG, as we sat there a train merrily trundled past heading towards London. In the meantime, Diane had phoned back to let me know that the crop had been cancelled because a lot of folk were having problems with the weather...
We finally arrived at my station. Still drizzling, no crop to look forward to, not much on the telly as far as I could remember, not a good evening (yuk, pooh, huff). No way was I in the mood to go home and start cooking (only for me, hubby is nights tonight) - CHIPS :o)
There is nothing nicer than a fish & chip shop on a grotty evening, windows steamed up but shining bright, and even better if there is not a queue. A tray of chips with lots of salt and vinegar (in times of need...lol) and things don't seem quite so bad.
It'll all still be there tomorrow so for now, anyone want a chip?
It has been windy today, there's a surprise, it's been windy for the last few days but granted, it was a bit gustier today - so everything comes to a halt through lack of planning or failure to implement contingency arrangements. I'm sure you know where I'm going with this...
Good old British Rail...no trains, no explanations, no help!!! :o(Due to the adverse weather conditions (gosh, I'm even sounding like a station announcement) I had been checking travel details on the Internet at work. Afterall, tonight was to be Nicola's first crop of 2007 and I didn't want to get caught up in any rail disruption. The best laid plans of mice & men...
BBC travel advised that my line had problems between Barking & Grays (good old Tilbury loop on the Fenchurch Street line) and could be subject to delays. So I set off for home early - left work about 4.45pm, normally a 40min journey, plenty of leeway for some delay - no problem. Even if there were hold-ups I should still be home in time to grab the car and get to the crop on time <#noise that the computer on family fortunes makes when the answer is wrong#> First stage of journey; Stratford to West Ham via Jubilee Line - slight delay but arrive with about five minutes to spare for a train that would take me all the way home without changing <# that noise again#> WRONG. Indicator board shows the time as fast approaching 5pm but we are awaiting services that should have arrived almost two hours previously. Next train due, only a couple of minutes to wait, will only go as far as Grays (three stops from home) but it'll be most of the way home. The second train listed would take me right home but there was another 10 minutes to wait and when there are problems.................you don't take the chance! Wait on platform (short trains this time of day) horrid drizzle and it's a bit blowy but nothing out of the ordinary, glance at indicator board and the data does a flip - train 2 is now train one and train one (that was) has been further delayed. Great, things are looking up, no broken journey, and as the thought goes through my mind the train pulls in. Not too crowded but standing room only, just the same. Arrive at the next station, still standing but I'm on my way home so who cares... Just as the doors close a tannoy announcement is made, something to do with Grays but the doors are closed and we are pulling away before anyone can hear the message. Two stops later I get a seat. Not the fastest of journeys but I'm on my way. I thumb through my latest craft magazine and wonder if I've got a suitable photo for the crop page that Nicola has prepared...
Arrive at Grays (only three stops to home, yipeee) folk get off, but folk on the platform are hesitating about getting on - not a good sign. The doors close but we don't pull away. Everyone then starts straining to hear what is going on the drivers cab. From his side of the converstaion he is not a happy bunny and he repeatedly tells whoever he is talking to that he has a train full of people and needs to know what is going on. Then we heard the dreaded words "so I'm to terminate the service here and return to London..." The intercom crackled to life and he very apologetically asked us to leave the train - he believed that a replacement bus service was in operation for us to continue our journey (believed? why didn't he know, why hadn't he been told for sure). Out into the drizzle and where are the staff? Who is going to tell us about these wonderful buses? Quickly making his way to the underpass to the other platform we saw a member of staff trying to beat a hasty retreat - too late, we got him. Although what help he was is still being debated by the jury... When asked where the buses were he asked where we wanted to go and then waved a hand vaguely to indicate the other side of the street.
There was actually a bus sitting waiting at the end of the line of bus-stops and not too many people waiting to get on, unfortunately, neither was there a driver for the bus. When you are uncertain what is going on you tend to lose track of the time but it couldn't have been too long when a second bus appeared (and from somewhere so did the driver of the first bus).
Although the distance involved to get home from Grays is not huge we had three stations to call at all separated by dark, wet, country lanes. I phoned Diane and told her I might be late for the crop. As we pulled up at Tilbury Town we saw a train pull out heading in the direction that we were travelling - what was going on. The driver saw it too and was not happy as he had been called out to provide an emergency service but the trains appeared to be running. We continued.
The next stop is East Tilbury. This is a great place, there is only one road in and the only place that it leads to is the Thames, so the bus had to turn around in order to head for my destination which was next. To get into East Tilbury the road crosses the railway line - you know, flashing lights, barriers and all that stuff and yes, we got caught at the barriers on our return. But you are on a Rail replacement bus, I hear you say, why do the barriers need to close if there are no trains. Once again, WRONG, as we sat there a train merrily trundled past heading towards London. In the meantime, Diane had phoned back to let me know that the crop had been cancelled because a lot of folk were having problems with the weather...
We finally arrived at my station. Still drizzling, no crop to look forward to, not much on the telly as far as I could remember, not a good evening (yuk, pooh, huff). No way was I in the mood to go home and start cooking (only for me, hubby is nights tonight) - CHIPS :o)
There is nothing nicer than a fish & chip shop on a grotty evening, windows steamed up but shining bright, and even better if there is not a queue. A tray of chips with lots of salt and vinegar (in times of need...lol) and things don't seem quite so bad.
It'll all still be there tomorrow so for now, anyone want a chip?
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
You are not seeing double...
...well not quite.
Due to the very kind assistance of Chrissie (Life is Scrap) I was all set to edit my previous
posting to show the LOs after she had worked her magic and 'stitched' the bits together so you can see the whole of the pages - no joins (ain't technology amazing).
But I thought I would leave the other pics so that you could see the difference (just a shame about my ability to set out a posting...lol).
I have to tell you that when I read the comment Chrissie left on the last post I was so touched that someone I had only 'met' briefly via the wonders of blogland would offer to help me in this way.
Sorry Chrissie if my posting doesn't do your efforts the justice they deserve but I am trying (yes I know, very trying......:o) !!!) I promise to practice and do better... it's just that everything looks okay until you hit the publish button and then the gremlins take over and things appear in places you just didn't imagine..........
Due to the very kind assistance of Chrissie (Life is Scrap) I was all set to edit my previous
posting to show the LOs after she had worked her magic and 'stitched' the bits together so you can see the whole of the pages - no joins (ain't technology amazing).But I thought I would leave the other pics so that you could see the difference (just a shame about my ability to set out a posting...lol).
I have to tell you that when I read the comment Chrissie left on the last post I was so touched that someone I had only 'met' briefly via the wonders of blogland would offer to help me in this way.
Sorry Chrissie if my posting doesn't do your efforts the justice they deserve but I am trying (yes I know, very trying......:o) !!!) I promise to practice and do better... it's just that everything looks okay until you hit the publish button and then the gremlins take over and things appear in places you just didn't imagine..........
It's done...
...honest, really, I have completed Nic's challenge. Unfortunately, I don't have a 12x12 scanner (Santa wasn't that generous :o)...) and I don't have a working digital camera so these pics are the best I can manage at the moment...
The thing that was holding me up on this LO was a photo. I just didn't have anything that was suitable ;o( and even pics taken over Christmas just didn't seem right. Then I remembered this Christmas card.
I know it's not the same as using a photo but I just loved this Santa. This to me was Christmas - the lovely bewhiskered gent catching a few Zzzzzzzzz's , probably because of too many mince pies and sherrry's - Peace, Joy, and Happiness...
Hope Nic likes it when she see's the whole thing, tomorrow :o)
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