some people live in the land of Lost. Apparently there is a tiny village in Scotland called "Lost" and they are having problems with tourists nicking their village sign. Also they complain that deliveries get lost because no one knows where "Lost" is... I must say that if I was a delivery person and I saw an address for Lost, I'd think it was someone playing a prank!
According to the article, they say they want to change the name of the village to "Lost Farm"....
but I think they should change it to "Found"...
on a poor english day...
today I've come down with yet another cold/sinus infection. Actually I think this is the one which has been building for a couple of weeks now. I've been feeling really tired lately, and achy, and it's here now. Unfortunately my sinuses aren't cooperating and draining, just being sore and painful and I have one heck of a fever. You should see my cheeks-- soldier circles bright red on both of them. Oy.
I haven't been able to get warm all day-- that's been the biggest clue. I've been wearing flannel pj bottoms, socks & shoes, a long-sleeved fleece nightgown that goes down to my ankles, and my warmest fleece jumper on top of that!! Still chilly.
Somebody put me out of my misery.
The american cheer part arrived about lunchtime-- a package from my Mom & Dad! It had our new checks from our new account in Columbus, some Famous Amos cookies-- yummy, some chex mix and some cheese on cheese crackers for Andy-- (actually we both like those!) and some scrummy hot tamales. The most notable treat was definitely the pack of Peeps!!!!! whohooo peeps! Thanks Mom & Dad!!
perfect timing i must say.
and enjoying it.
The other day when I wrote the blog about what the English know best, I had the best bath of my life, and afterwards, probably the best sleep of my life.
I've discovered that having a bath before bed is very relaxing-- maybe just what I need to calm down to sleep each night.
So I'm doing an experiment-- for the next couple of weeks I am going to have a bath each evening before bed, and see how I sleep.
Cheers Mom-- you really do know best.
Saturday afternoon I (foolishly?) agreed to go geocaching with Andy. It was a beautiful (but windy and a bit cold) day, and he's been reminding me that I haven't been caching with him for a while. It seemed like a nice day for a brisk walk. I wanted to get ahead of the calories I knew we would consume later in the evening going out to the wonderful mexican restaurant in Macclesfield (El Rio). So I agreed.
And off we went.
First stop was a cache called Bossley Locks-- something that I've passed a million times on my way to Macclesfield and Bakewell and Chesterfield, but never stopped there. It was really nice to walk along the canal. It was a fairly short walk, and then a quick hunt for the cache (Andy played "hot and cold" for me, more or less directing me) and then a quick sign of the sheet-- holding onto it for dear life, less it blow away and land in the canal!! Hid it again and walked back down to the car.
Easy peasy.
Then in the car he says he wants to drive around this next area and see what it's like from the car. Apparently there is a cache up on the top of this hilly area-- the highest point in Staffordshire-- called the Roaches. So he gives me these maps and I navigate us up to where his printout says to go. Then Andy decides he's going to go for it-- and that I'm coming with him!
Okay... I think.
We get out and walk down a bit of a hill to get to the trail. (I'm thinking-- that is going to HURT when we have to walk back UP that to get to the car). Andy reads my mind and assures me he will walk up and get the car and turn it around and come pick me up by the trail. I relax a bit.
We start up the trail. It is the nicest trail I have ever seen-- very "finished". By this I mean the trail consists of 3 foot square stones (not all of them were square, but most were at least 3 foot wide) and it was almost like walking on a sidewalk! (Pavement for all those lovely brits!)
So we start to make our way, and already we can see such beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Because I'm so out of shape, its not long before I'm panting and out of breath. Andy isn't out of breath at all, and comments on me panting and I tell him it's because the air is thinner up here!
So we step aside and look at the views. I ask where we have to climb up to, and he tells me to look for the stone pillar thingy. It seems MILES away so I say "Right! Where's the car keys!??" and surprisingly he says "sure, okay, here you go-- I'll be back in a little while". I had been smart enough to put my book in the car in case of this very reason. (I know my husband!)
So off he goes, and soon he is nearly up to the first crest. I stand there admiring the views a bit longer, pulling my hood of my fleece vest over my head-- the wind is whistling in my ears and I worry about getting an earache. Suddenly it occurs to me. Why don't I just see how far I can get? What damage would that do? It's a really nice path, not mucky. Maybe I'll get farther than I think?
So step by step I make my way. I have to stop several times, to catch my breath, but I keep going. I wait for the weakness to come in my legs-- thinking that if that comes I'll be in big trouble-- the further I get from the bottom!
But it doesn't come, so I carry on.
It was probably the best design for a hill climb ever-- you climb a hill, all you can see is to the top of that crest, then you reach the top, there's a bit of a flat area and the next hill and all you can see is that next crest. So you don't ever see the whole hill at once-- because if you did, you'd be totally overwhelmed!
So I did it crest by crest, and when I could see the stone pillar come into view-- I realized something.
What if Andy had found the cache and went down another way??!!
panic for a minute and I look around and finally spot him climbing around near some boulders.
He'd found the cache and was just looking for somewhere to sit while he wrote in the log.
He was rather surprised to see me, but was really encouraging with lots of "Well done love!!"s and "I'm really proud of you!!"s. And he took my picture next to the pillar, and then I took his. We both signed the log and sat there for a bit, hiding from the wind (which at the top was really strong and very cold!). Then we decided to head back down.
Going down, to me, was much scarier than going up. If you fall going up, you fall forward, and because of the angle of the hill, it's not far to fall! But going down, it's much much farther!!!! So I had to go slowly and very cautiously at times.
But we made it down to the bottom. Then Andrew drops the bomb. He decides he wants to follow the road around (rather than turn around and go back the way we came). Which means I now have to climb back up the hill to the car!!
My legs are now quite rubbery and I am slowing down with each step. So Andrew has to help me up this hill (he wouldn't agree to rolling the car backwards!). We get in the car, drink the best tasting Coca Cola ever and eat the most delicious cheese on cheese crackers (from America!).
We follow the hill around and decide to go to Tittesworth Reservoir for a coffee to warm up. Yummy.
I am more warmed and cheered by the knowledge that I made it up the Roaches.
Yay me!
Today I had to ring the American Embassy in London up. I wanted to ask about having a set of tax forms sent to me, so I can file for 2003, and to ask if they can send me copies of my 2001 and 2002 tax filings-- that I sent off and have misplaced (!) the photocopies of!
The answerphone message on the Embassy line says they're short staffed and recommends ringing the IRS office in Philadelphia, which is good news to me, as it is cheaper for me to phone Philly than London!! (especially in the middle of the day!) So I get through and the very kind lady informs me that they never received my 2001 filing, and that I can download the forms online, and that she will order a transcript (which is as good as a copy) for me of the 2002 tax filing. This means I have to file 2001 again. Great. Because chances are, that if I can't find the photocopies-- my documents which tell me how much I made that year will be with them. Although-- I am trying to remember if I actually filed for 2001 in the first place. I may not have-- the IRS adviser may have told me not to. Because I would have made less than $500 that year-- I only worked at the library and at Smiths-- Smiths part time on a pittance wage, and the library only every other saturday at a decent wage, but since so few hours-- very few ££.
I am tempted to write a note to the Embassy in lieu of 2001 taxes. It says in the application that you have to file the tax copies or explain why you aren't.
I'm off to download the 2003 forms -- closer and closer!
Yesterday a lady came up to the enquiry desk. She was near my age-- maybe a five or so years older? Anyhow, she came up to the desk with her mother, and I asked if I could help her. She said she hoped so-- she and her mother and her daughter are flying to Edinburgh soon, and they were told that they would need "government approved" photo identification for the airport. She needed to know what that included, as she doesn't have a photo driver's licence, or a passport. She hates flying, she added. I had a good look on the internet and found nothing. I advised her to phone either the airline or the airport to ask what IDs they accept as government approved. Then I laughed quietly and said they'd be better off taking the train if she didn't like flying...
She laughed and said the only reasons they were flying were because it was her daughter's birthday present (her daughter had never flown before) and because someone had told them that it was only an hour on the plane from Manchester to Edinburgh. Well that's true, but it takes an hour to get to MAN airport from Crewe, plus you have to be there an hour earlier to check in, plus an hour on the other end to get from the Edinburgh airport into the city centre... which means it would be faster and simpler to just take the train (and cheaper).
So then (I couldn't help myself, I really couldn't-- it was amazing I didn't just hoot out with laughter before saying it!!) I said, very straight-faced, you should send your mother and your daughter on the plane, and you should take the train... you know, the old scottish song... "You take the high road, and all take the low... and I'll be in Scotland afore ye..."
We all had a good laugh (mine was very restrained-- we've had complaints from borrowers that they can hear us laughing and carrying on in the reference library!) and she thanked me and went on her way...
there are at least five things the English know that I believe are the best things to know:
1.) Rain doesn't make you melt.
2.) Life doesn't stop when it rains. If in doubt, refer to thing #1.
3.) A fresh hot cuppa tea does wonders to improve your mood and take the chill off on a cold damp day.
4.) There is only one thing better on a rubbish day than a long soak in a hot bubble bath with a really good book and candlelight. (see thing #5)
5.) On a rubbish damp cold day, the best way to forget about the woes of life is to make a fresh hot cuppa, run a hot bubble bath, light your candles, grab your really good book, and let the worries and fatigue just melt away.
cheers.
Got to spend the evening with a good friend-- Robina (who also works at K3 with Andy). She invited me over for dinner (evening meal) and stitching. We watched a movie while we stitched and I got quite a chunk done on my queen. She's really coming along now. I've nearly got the very bottom part done. I think that tomorrow afternoon I will have that part complete. I'm working until 1pm and then finished for the day.
Hoping that the anti-depressants will kick in sometime soon. Feeling kind of low but had a nice chat with Robina this evening. It's good to have such good friends. I miss Ione though-- lots to tell her already!
Hope she and the family have been having the sunshine and warm weather that we've had yesterday and today!
just blew me away.
I really struggled to stay in the room. My tears were coming down my face, hot and steady at one point. I knew that it would be a really big embarrassment if I got up though. The way the chairs are laid out-- every single person in the room would have known I was affected and I don't know what they would have been thinking.
The basic gist of the sermon was that God is there for us, no matter what our circumstances are, even in the depths of despair. Pastor Danny used 1 Samuel chapter 1 to illustrate-- Hannah, (samuel's mother) in her barrenness, crying out to God that if He blessed her with a child (He had closed her womb for whatever reason) she promised to give the child back to God. And she did-- when he was only 3 years old. But Danny went into great length about barrenness and desiring children-- wanting to be needed and how it is different to how a woman feels needed by her husband. How the aches are different for husbands and for children.
Oh man I was dying inside. I have watched many (nearly all) of my friends as they grew more pregnant and have become auntie to all of their children time and again, but can't get this weight off. I don't know if I am barren or not, but I suppose I am as good as, because it would be unhealthy to have a baby at this weight. I have put enough strain on my poor body, my back and my heart. Where would the weight of the baby go? I'd have to be bed-ridden because I wouldn't be able to find maternity clothes in my size. But yet, I really desire a family. And last night in the room as he was saying all those things, I wanted to crawl into a hole in the ground and cry my heart out.
I think I would be a good Mummy. I have been looking after children since I was about 10 years old. Running the creche rota means I can have mini baby-fixes on a fairly regular basis (once a month or so) but it's not the same.
So God, here I am in the depths. Be with me now.
Please.
really got me.
In the morning, Pastor Danny (who is back from India safe and sound and bespectacled!!) preached from John chapter 4, about Jesusand the Samaritan woman at the well. Ione and I have done an overview at this point in our Precepts study of chapters 1 through 9, so we have done the basics from that chapter, but Danny really got in there in depth. It really struck me how Jesus went completely out of His way to meet this particular woman. Danny said that culturally, women drew their water in the coolest times of the day, and when Jesus went to the well, it was the hottest time of the day. The women would make a social gathering and chat to one another as they filled their water jars-- this particular woman would not have felt welcome amongst them. She would have been the object of their gossip-- having had 5 husbands and living now with a man she wasn't married to. So she chose to avoid confrontation with them by drawing her water midday in the heat. He also said that Jews never went from Judea to Galilee via Samaria, even though it would be the most sensible path-- a fairly straight line-- because they considered Samaria to be unclean and a mixed breed etc. So they would go out of their way to avoid the country.
But Jesus cut straight through and went to the well-- knowing that this particular woman would be there. He knew her inside out-- her past, her present and her future. He went there specifically to meet her. That really struck me. That He loved her so much to go so far out of His way just to speak to her and to save her. Through His conversation with her, she realised her sin, and went away to the townspeople and told them all about Jesus and many of them came to Jesus themselves.
Such an odd way of reaching people-- picking someone who is know by all the town, but for all the wrong reasons. But Jesus had His reasons. And He still does. How incredible to think that God has the desire to reach right out to each one of us individually...
and I don't think it's just because it's half-term and every kid within 5 miles of us is on the computer! I don't know why... it's just on its knees today. Takes ages just to load up yahoo!
Anyhoo--
Took Abi and Becky to Cheshire Oaks and Voirrey Embroidery Centre today-- a fun day out-- weather was gorgeous!! I bought a tea towel and 3 dmc threads at Voirrey (VERY conservative for me!!!) and a one cup teapot/cup thingy at Whittards (I love that shop) and 2 bargain binders at WHSmiths and some mini-discs, and a children's book and a book called The Time Traveler's Wife from Borders (was being very good in there too!) and a pair of trackie bottoms at Cotton Trader (that are tightish but comfy enough for lounging around in).
is sometimes a really hilarious thing.
For example: In England, there is a phrase "spend a penny" to refer to someone in need of the bathroom. In context, someone would say "I'm going to go spend a penny". Now the first time I ever heard that, I laughed my head off, because the translator in my head decided it was a pun on "have a pee" (the penny being also called 1p). A few weeks later I found out that I was totally wrong! It isn't a pun-- according to my colleagues, it comes from the fact that they used to have to pay a penny to use the public toilets... (my translation was definitely funnier).
also lately the phrase "no use barring the gate after the horse has bolted" has been in my head. I've heard it both ways-- barring the gate and barring the door, but either way it means past the point of no return, can't change some things. Like turning the oven temperature down after the meal has already burned.
is having a couple of very bad days...
I can only hope it comes near to the torture I feel when trying to cut and paste from Word to Powerpoint.
Or just from using Word in general (when it continues to re-format my document with asking!!!).
amen?
someone on the Lizzie*Kate mailing list posted a link to where you can order the charms for the 2002 Flip-its series (just the charms) in case you wanted to stitch them again without buying the charts again!
only $12 for the pack of 12!
going to have a look at the site!
Tonight we went with Dave & Ione for a meal out to a place in Hanley-- I'll have to add the name later because I can't remember how it was spelled! It was a really fabulous meal though-- great atmosphere, great company (great laughs!) and really great food. The room was really well laid out-- the tables weren't too close together, and the wait-staff didn't pressure you to leave before you were ready or anything like that. Our table was excellent-- kind of in a corner, nice and private and we had a wonderful time talking and laughing and enjoying scrummy food! Andy had the cheese & herb fritters for a starter, then had the turkey schnitzel for a main course and blackcurrant cheesecake for dessert. I had the rissois for a starter-- interesting food, it was creamed meat filling in a little deep fried pocket of pastry; and then the burger, egg & chips for main course (a bit on the greasy side-- but wanted to try it), and the choc. mousse cake and coconut ice cream for dessert-- so yummy I wished I'd skipped the main course and just had the dessert!!! :)
Oddly enough, the restaurant is right beside where we always park for going to the theatre!! So we parked up, expecting to walk a couple of blocks and were right there!
I especially loved their leather couch-- kind of a psychiatrist's couch-- the square frame, and the button-dimples all over. This particular couch was pretty massive-- could put at least 6 people on it!
Also tried a new J2O drink-- Apple and Melon. Had a very nice mellow melony taste, with a pip of green apple flavour spicing it up a bit! Very nice. Reminded me of eating apple flavour Jolly Rancher sweets from home.
I had a mocha to drink with my dessert-- which is why I'm still awake right now-- I was veritably buzzing from the caffeine!! I'm off to ring Mom & Dad and spread the joy :) ;)
I was around Anna's house last night for a girlie night and she had the latest Empire magazine. Out of their top 100, I have seen 79 of them!! whohoo :)
I didn't agree with some of their choices, and I definitely didn't agree with the top 10. They split the LOTR into the three separate films, okay I can understand that, but there's no way Fellowship was number 1, Two Towers number 2 or 3, and Return of the King 8!!! Return of the King was by far the best, so I'd have put that at number 1, then put Fellowship somewhere in the top 20, and Two Towers in the top 60.
Return of the King is quite possibly the best film I have ever seen. (and as you can guess, I have seen a honkin' lot of films)
there are some days when i wish that they would invent a sinus-draining machine. a vaccuum of sorts which would go up in there and just empty it all out in times like this, when it won't drain of its own accord.
it's cold and windy here today, and wet. could barely sleep for the noise the wind was making last night. :(
i have now sunk to a new low in priorities in a certain person's life...
the order seems to be:
- computers or anything to do with them
- gps and geocaching
- the cats
- toast
- me
fabulous.
Finished April Flip-it by Lizzie Kate this evening. It was started on Monday evening (2/2/04). Stitched on Cafe Mocha by Silkweaver, 28count, using Gentle Arts Sampler Threads. Photos to follow!!