John's Mum

As some of you may know, amongst my many hobbies one is consecutive number pate spotting. Check out this link if you don’t know what it is. I’ve been wanting 54 for ages, month and months. I had 55,56 and 57 all lined up as they park between home and the train station and home. Well this morning I finally saw a 54 this morning by Bournemouth Station. Nice one. The others were parked where they should be tonight on the walk home from the station , So now I’m on 57. Four in one day, Brill.

Other than that nothing much happening today. Spent time tonight sorting through photographs. Whenever I’m out on my travels and I come across an old Church I’ll take a photo or two of it. Well last September I took photos of the church at Wickham. I always take a photo of the notice board as well, or something that has the name of the church on it, so I can refer to it later. Looking at the picture of the notice board on this one and I noticed that the Vicar is a Rev Shirley Henderson…. Oh my!!! That’s Johns mum, a guy I used to work with, was in a band with and still in contact. Well Well. Small world.

Just before going to bed I watch a commotion outside. Our next door but one neighbour, Ali has a cat and it got in a fight with a ginger cat. We've only just started noticing the ginger cat around. We think that it was one of the kittens born last year in a house up the road. Anyway, Ali and the rest of her family charged out of the house to break up the fight. Ginger cat ran off but only a couple of houses away. Ali then decided that wasn't far enough as chased it up the road swinging a mop at it. Trust me, it looked funny at the time.

Not my day

Ever had one of those days. Started off by me missing the train. So I had to hang around for an hour for the next one. Still a couple of freight train movements helped passed the time. Train was bust, tried to read a book on Photoshop but found it hard. Walking into work go stopped by the normal group of beggars, all of which were asking for 15p or 20p for a mother days present. How strange. They anyone who walked past them they would hurl a mouthful of abuse at them. Seeing that made me double sure that they weren't going to get a penny from me and yes I got the same abuse.

Popped into WH Smiths was there browsing through the magazine when the group of beggars walked in. Went straight to the sweet counter, filled their pockets with nutra-grain bars and flapjacks. Picked up hand full of crisps and other chocolates and just walked out. And the staff did bugger all about it. Was tempted to do the same but I bet they would prosecute me.

Went into work, tripped on a step hurting my wrist and shin. Managed to get to my desk without further incident. I decided that my normal visit to the coffee machine was just too dangerous.

Wanted to buy a new bike pump on the way home as the one I have is rubbish. You pump up the tyre only so much, they it seems to start taking air out of the tyre. I was pumping away for 35 mins last night and ended up knackered and with less air in the tyre then when I started. Meant that ever time I tried to go round a corner the wheel would feel like it was slipping from me. Also some of the road camber on the streets of Eastleigh leave a lot to be desired. So it was getting quite bad. So a new pump was needed. Halfords have a shop next to the station in Bournemouth. Feeling lazy I caught the bus up to the station. I went to get up from my seat on the bus I felt my trousers catch something and rip. Sure enough there was a small hole in the middle of the trousers. But nothing that would show. Bought a BIG pump. I’m sure the price on the shelf was £15, but was only charged £8. Hurrah something going right for me today.

On the train no problem but leaving my seat again my trousers felt like it had caught something. Looking down I say a patch of gum. Oh S**t I must have sat on someone’s gum on the bus. Yeap, one big white patch all over my bum… Just wanted to get home. Sue saw my big pump and says that it looked like I was going to blow something up because it looked like on of those plungers that dynamite people us. It turns out to be a very good pump. Within a minute of starting to pump up the bike tyre. A huge explosion was heard, The picture showing the damage.

Just not my day. Even the Bacardi Breezer I opened just before writing this blog fizzed up and all over the side.

Normal, average height, non brain eating people

Off to Sue’s parent today to further try to sort out their internet connection. The phone company is going to boost their line, it will take 48 to complete but hopefully this will sort out their problems.

The we went off to the cinema to see Hot Fuzz. Very goods film, all through it thinking that we recognise where the filming too place. Turns out to be Wells in Somerset. Quite a funny film, had me giggling most of the way through it. Lots of famous names in it. Thoroughly recommend it.

On the way home we thought about tea, We knew that we had some packet rice at home and that cooking that would be quick and simple but what to have with it. We popped into the local Tesco Express to look for something. We bought some Chicken Korma. Then to the checkouts, hoping to avoid being served by ‘Happy Chappy’ who neither of us like, or ‘Scary Mary’ who has always scared me. The problem with Happy Chappy is that he is exactly that, happy. And like all the time. At 6 in the morning, you don’t want to be served with Mr Happy. Chatting away about Happy things. No, Just ring up the items, take the money and that’s it, we don’t need your life story mate. Now Scary Mary looks the opposite, like she’s just about to eat your brain.

Why can’t Tescos employ normal people?

Anyway tonight we got Scary Mary. Sue wanted some batteries and they are kept behind the counter. I knew asking Scary Mary for them would be trouble and it was but not in the way I had imaged. You see Scary Mary is short and can’t reach the batteries and so had to call for another shop working to come across and gab them. The other Shop Assistant was only slightly taller than ‘Scary Mary’. During this time she was chatting to Sue about how they used to have a box to stand on to reach the items but after ‘an accident’ it got taken away. I looked around. All the other staff were also vertically challenged. So it didn't matter who served us, they could not have reached the batteries

Why can’t Tescos employ normal, average height people?

Scary Mary then commented on our Nan bread, hoping to that she was having a Curry that night. Sue joked with her. On leaving They smiled at each other. As I passed her, I too smiled at Scary Mary, Hoping that I might over come my irrational fear of her. Her face dropped and she stared at me like she was going to eat my brain.

Why can’t Tescos employ normal, average height, non brain eating people?

Yeovil, Sue, Floor Tom and Judith

Football on Tuesday night was another defeat for Bournemouth. 2-0 to Yeovil Town. I think we played well but just didn’t score. Yeovil to their credit worked hard all night, closing players down, fighting for the ball. Looks like Bournemouth’s going down this season. I hope not but it looks that way. On a positive note my Matchday Draw Tickets sales are on the up, sold 70 tonight.

Sue was supposed to meet her brother and his wife yesterday, but he messed her around. The thing is he’ll get away with it as she won’t mention it to him as she doesn’t want to disrupt family harmony.

I went to band practice last night. I have recently bought a new drum off eBay, a floor tom and I was desperate to try it out. It was good and produces a good sound. Been wanting one for ages as I felt it was hold back my drumming not having one. So hopefully now I can really improve.

Quiet day today. Was given a DVD at the football on Tuesday of the TV programme that Judith was on. She is one of the Matchday Draw Ticket sellers, like wot I am. She was on a relocation programme, as she has plans to emigrate to Australia soon. Chatting to her she said that she wasn’t entirely happy with the programme. She said that they made her look worse than she is on some issues and said at the end that she wasn’t going to emigrate. She still has plans to emigrate, just waiting for the visa to come through. Also they only mentioned about her husbands jobs and trying to sort out his career in Oz. No mention that she works full time and about her career. Will let you know what I thought of the programme tomorrow. That is if we watch it tonight.

Booking fee

Earned lots of fiancé points today but making sure that I obtained tickets to see Ricky Gervais in April. That’s Sue’s favourite comedian.

What annoyed me was the £2.50 booking fee. That’s per ticket. £5 just for the privilege of using their computer system. A system I help write. Disgusting.

Apart form that it’s been a quite day. Off to football tonight to see AFC Bournemouth play Yeovil Town. To think a few seasons ago we were two divisions apart. Fingers crossed for a win

Got this from my mate Omally

Your Brain is Red

Of all the brain types, yours is the most impulsive. If you think it, you do it. And you can get the bug to pursue almost any passion. Your thoughts are big and bold. Your mind has no inhibitions. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about love, your dreams, and distant places.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Have lap top will blog

Well again I’ve missed my early morning train to work and so having to wait an hour for the next one to Bournemouth. So as I write this I’m sat on Eastliegh station catching up with my blogs. I hope that I can catch up to date because I know that you are all interested in what’s happening in my life now, not a month ago.

I think this morning I’ll catch the Totton stopping service and change at Southampton. This has two advantages.

1) It will probably be operated by one of the unites recently transferred to South West Trains from TransPennine. Really disappointed in the new units. They used to be three car units, where as the ones they are replacing, the class 170’s are only two, but someone has stolen the middle unit of them on their way down South and so they are now only two car units, and really cramped they are. I was hoping that when I do ride on them on my trip home each day that I will get a seat but doesn’t look like that that will happen.

2) The next train to Bournemouth is normally quite full as far as Southampton, so by getting on it there I can get a seat.

Oops train coming, will finish later.

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OK moved on now to Southampton Station, quite here due to School Holidays. Just before my train departs there is a service to Cardiff (via Romsey, Salisbury, Bristol) and there is a whole bunch of school kids who get on, who make the St Trinian’s kids look like angels. There is such a scrum for the train when it gets to Southampton. I pity any little of lady trying to get on, She would get crushed by gangs of school kids trying to get themselves a seat. Anyway no kids around today. Cardiff service is running 7 mins late as well. No excuse given. At least my train looks like its on time… and here it comes, will finish later

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OK now on the train. Reflecting on evens over the weekend. Found out that my sister-in-law Anne has a blog, interesting read, much more interesting that the rubbish I churn out. She also on myspace.com, so I obtained my own page on there and this blog will be the first one copied onto my space on there. With in a day and old school friend found it and sent me a note. Carl was once a big part of my life, we did a lot together. I was chatting to him one day about my (then) bus and plane spotting and he said that if he did any sort of spotting that he would do train spotting, so we gave it a go. I can’t remember exactly but I don’t think he did it for very long but as you know, I haven’t stopped yet. We slowly drifted apart after that. I guess I spent all my time down at the station with my new train spotting friends, Sorry Carl, you were a good friend, even if you did lie all the time about you and Cindy Roles. And there was the time when I broke my ankle and you just went into my house and sat down, leaving me to crawl into the house on all fours, Yeah come to think of it you were quite a b’stad, weren’t you….. LOL seriously, great to hear from him, we have a lot of catching up to do.

How do I cross

Standing on the platform at the station today. Bloke on the opposite platform shouted across to me asking how I he could get onto the same platform. I suggested that he used the bridge, which I pointed to at the end of the platform. That was about the highlight of the day for me.

Pottering around day today. Down to the airport for a couple of biz jets. Regular readers may know that I’m setting up what I call Olding Curiosity Shop, which is basically all the pages that Sue I’ve thought about setting up, but Sue doesn’t want on this website. It includes all my actresses page and a whole host of other pages. When I finally get around to finishing it it should be well worth visiting. You may also know that I’ve bought and sold many horse and pony story books over the past few years. Anyway I thought I set up pages on the books to initially have links to Amazon but later on have my own books to sell on there. Well today on my Saddle Club Books page I’ve finally got a scan of at least one version of every book produced. Why do book publishers change the cover of books over time? I know that in the case of The Saddle club that they are published by different companies over the years and whilst the publishers may buy the rights to the text of the books they may not have the rights to the art work, so they have to do their own. However Sue recently bought a book from Amazon.com and the cover of the book was just a mirror image of the Amazon.co.uk version of the same book. Don’t see the point in that… unless it was a mistake.

Drum and Book

Busy day today, First of all stopped off at the Post Office sorting office to pick up my new Drum, a Floor Tom. It looks in far better condition than I thought it would be. I hope I can now move my drumming on to the next level and start doing more fills etc.

The off to Ludgershall to retrieve our cache there. Last person to visit said that the cache had been trashed. Went along to see what was left. There wasn’t much. Feel sorry for the people who had their geocoin in the cache. Looks like that’s gone missing.

Off to the Andover Book Sale. Hoping to pick up some cheap books. Came out with a huge pile of them even though we weren’t there from the start.

Off to Sue’s parents place to help set up their lap top. Got most of it working. Couldn’t get the internet to work, oh well will have to go back next week perhaps. They have lots more birds in their garden than we do. Nice Woodpecker (exact species not known) and my first Coal Tit. Nice.

Then popped round to Sue’s friends for a cuppa and a chat and then home.

Ugly Sod Me 4 AFC Bournemouth 5

Back on to trains today , off to the football.. went for the Romsey-Totten stopper to get me one stop to catch the fast train. Luckily we had one of the units just transferred from TransPennine. So it was a new units for me both in terms of seeing it and riding on it. Then on to a Virgin Voyager for one more stop, and luckily yet another unit that I hadn’t ridden on before, Southampton to Brockenhurst was yet another new one, My god a Hat-trick of new units, haven’t had that for such a long time, seeing as I’ve ridden on most of them now, its getting more difficult to rid eon new ones. Anyway, feeling pickish at Brockenhurst so we into the shop to buy a chocie bar (yes I know I’m trying to give them up but its hard, anyway the odd one here and there is OK. Girl serving was on the phone to someone and wasn’t going to hang up just because she had customers to service. She did thank me quite a few times during the transaction. The person she was on the phone to must have commented about this as I heard her day to him/her, how she likes to be pleasant to customers and that customers think she is so polite, I nodded me head, even though I though she was rude to carry on conversations like this.. There you go she said to her friend, he thinks I’m polite. I walked out, just as I got to the door I heard her say to her friend, ‘Oh I was only like that ‘code he was ugly and I felt sorry for him. Well thanks a bunch. That’s one shop I will never go into again. Anyway stopping train awaits and yes it was another new one. Four in one day , unheard of.. Then to football .Bournemouth we were already two nil up when I got into the stadium, we took Leyton Orient apart and won 5-0. We’ve struggled to get wins this season so a 5-0 nil put us in dream land. Also sold 81 of my Matchday draw tickets, a record for recent times. So apart from the unfortunate incident at Brockenhurst a good day all round.

aargh

What a horrible journey home. Left work a couple of mins after I should have done. Ran to get the bus to go up to that station. Normally I walk but I was taking the lap top home with me and I didn’t fancy hauling it up the hill to the station. Anyway the bus journey was a nightmare waited at the Square for ages then every stop had morons getting on the bus not knowing where they were going, didn’t have their money out ready etc. So missed the train I was going to get. SO I two choices now, catch the next one which was the stopper and hope that my connecting train in Southampton was late or just wait the 45 mins for the next fast train. Got on the stopper as I thought I could spend the extra time blogging on the lap top. Sat in the very last carriage, which is normally OK, Big mistake, St Trinian’s kids were on board. All of who were very excitable. Running up and down the train shouting at each other. Turns out that Jennie was having a party that night at some restaurant or other, and that all of her friends should meet at her place, but don’t come early as she had a piano lesson at 6. I changed trains at Totton, Whilst I wasn’t going to get home any earlier I might as well get on the connecting train a stop as soon as I could and grab a seat. Yeap the train filled up at Southampton and then we had to wait 20 mins for the train crew to arrive, (WHY!! they never wait for me) So I got home at 6.15 having left work at 3.30 The thought of buying a car raged in my mind. With a car I would have been home at least 2 hours earlier.