Oh Plummie It's at times like this I wish we could ship you back to the UK full stop. Not that job prospects are much better here but you'd probably be entitled to more state help and at least you'd have family around to help out.

I hope your job prospects turn out to be better than you're expecting or that something wonderful comes along. Sending loads of vibes and hugs your way.

Sparing a few of those vibes for Handy's leg though - that doesn't sound good, HM. Hope you get it sorted asap. ((((((((((((HM)))))))))))

Here, I am not having the best of weeks either. Mostly to do with other people's cr*p and not mine, fortunately. But it's amazing how much other people's cr*p can impact on one's life.

Thankyou for the thought - it's genuinely much appreciated


To be honest, I think the state help here has been totally awesome. It certainly seems to be a more simple system than over there. The other major difference seems to be in the manner in which the government department treats you. I've felt as if I've been treated with the utmost respect and understanding and never made to feel as if I'm bludging or should be doing more. There are people that complain about them, but I've dealt with a different person each time I've been in to the department and had a friendly approachable person to speak to each and every time.

I'm just going to find my happy head somewhere and keep soldiering on. No matter how bleak things feel, I'm still way happier than I was just about a year ago now, so life is on the up!

Sorry to read that your week isn't being the best Sad, and it's true that other people's cr*p can have a disproportionately large impact on our lives. Hope your week improves - there's still time!

Unfortunately, distance is a great separator.

=

Good afternoon peeps. I see there are quite a few problems going around at the moment, so hugs to you all and I hope you get them sorted.

=

Additional to what I said earlier about FTTC. First, you'll get a hub/router sent by your ISP in the post, then you'll need a BT Openreach engineer visiting your property in order to modify your BT or equivalent telephone socket and also equip you with an Openreach modem (supplied by said engineer free of charge). A few cable connections (should be done by said engineer) and you're good to go. Wireless set-up requires a few other software settings, but should all be explained in the manual, which comes with the ISP hub. There may be an activation charge, dependent on ISP. For Sky it is a £50 one off charge and you have to sign up to a standard 12 month contract.

However, if you only use the internet for casual surfing, don't bother with FTTC, IMO. The main benefit is if you do a lot of streaming, e.g. YouTube and/or download large files. For instance, for testing purposes I downloaded a 2 Gb file in about 10 minutes.

ETA. My dad is happy on 2 meg where he is with PlusNet. Even before I got FTTC, that was 5 times slower than here.

Still, to be honest, I'd sacrifice that any time for the views he has, which I miss by living a pretty nondescript urban area.

Thnaks for all the hugs and good wishes, chaps. Always appreciated. Leg hurts a lot less and hopefully whatever I've done at it will gradually correct itself. Not the end of the world, is it?

Plummie, you're a marvel, you are. I really hope the job thing works out.
I mentioned your situation to Mr M earlier, and he says is there any way you can do any training or voluntary work to give you a broader skill set? I bet you'd be a brilliant teaching assistant!
Sending you tons of vibes and everything you deserve.

Some vibes for Sad, too - other people's cr*p is often worse, cos at least if it's your own cr*p you can shovel it!

(plum)

I pulled a tendon in my right knee when I was around about 25-30, trying to move a large portion of a cut down tree. It took about 10 years for it to fully correct itself. So, I am saying to you handy, please be careful in what you do and I wish you again a speedy recovery.

(((more hugs to handy)))

Thanks for the warning, jra. I promise to be careful

Mr M is nodding off beside me, determinedly eating his supper and attempting to read my SFX magazine even though he's fallen asleep twice.
I'm going to be finding grapes on the duvet tomorrow...

I know y'all love him

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1816702

Ha ha.

From the Lonely Planet Guide dated 2007, Europe On A Shoestring.


Are they having a laugh.

They've never heard of the HST or this.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_tr..._Great_Britain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterCity_125
(As far as I know, this train still is the fastest diesel train in the world, despite what wikipedia says, apart from the German ICE diesel version possibly.)

I love train travel. I'd rather take a train than drive any day, so long as I can plan it well in advance and I haven't got big bags to drag about. Wish it cost less, but there you go...
Melony loves it too, so I think a Family Railcard is in the offing!

My dad gave me a train set as a present when I was a young boy, so I've been interested in them since.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel built the GWML, which to this day can cope with standard trains speeds of up to 145mph and TGV speeds up to 186mph (with tilting trains), way back when it was built.

The HST is a masterpiece of British engineering IMO and is still in use today after refurbishments and engine replacements.

=

HST variants have been exported to Australia, so hello Ima.

I grew up near Darlington and Stockton, home to Stephenson's Rocket, and now live near York where the railway museum is. Fab!

I'd like to visit there, plus the London Transport Museum.

Check out advance fares, group savers, and whatnot. That's how we do Palace away games, book well ahead of time. For example, we once did East Coast London to Leeds (Lids Lids Lids) for about £15 out and £10 back; it costs silly money normally.

The NRM in York is free; I can never quite believe it when we go!


KJ, I know we should, but that would mean being organised!
Melony has been wittering about going to London - now that we have the prospect of sovency for the next couple of years I'd like tio take her on an ovenight, so shall seek your august advice when I do!

Can I be naughty and throw in a couple of HST videos.

I remember going into London from Devon used to take four hours and when the HSTs were introduced, the journey time was cut by at least 30 minutes.

Valenta Sunset. Mother of all HST starts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H-WKRIXynQ

Valenta HST POWERS through Gasworks Tunnel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-St8pxUr0w

=

Additional to what KJ has said.
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tra...-train-tickets

TGIF mY lovely grumpies

sNowBes, put yer telly on, it's HIGNFY and Brian Blessed!!!

Ken Livingstone!

This is comedy gold!

it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo funny

loved the Fawlty towers comment

I have insomnia and wine. This combination is dangerous.

Good morning everybody. No news really to report.

He (I presume it is a he) has been singing continuously from a roof top nearby for the best part of the last three days. Is he looking to attract/find a mate for the breeding season. It's a wonderful song though.

It's been a long long week, but at least now it's the weekend - yayyyy! all one day of it! woop woop! Just home from work, it's been a messy day and at one point I was lightly coated in a combination of cream and yoghurt - and not it's not "that" kind of job So now it's on to my unpaid job and have washing to do and dinner to cook. Everything else can get stuffed, all I want to do is sit down and vegetate. I doubt I'll get peace to do that as YoungPlum has lots to say having been on her own all day.

Today, while I was at work she was playing with a little make-up set that someone gave her yesterday. I phoned to check up on how the day was going and she told me that she'd had to wash off her first effort as she looked "like a warrior" - I dread to think, but I wish I had a picture The second "improved" version doesn't look too bad apart from the fact that she looks like she hasn't slept in a year or two and is somewhat zombie-like because of this

That is about it for today I think.

And pierogi!

Though at this point I swear I couldn't eat another one. I'm pierogied out.

Lovely to be back. The trip went well and mama was on pretty good form. She's chummed up with a brilliant woman who says she's an actress (offered to get the boy a job in television, which was a bit random but very nice of her... ) and told me all about cooking bigos for the British ambassador. Lots of other big stories too, and I'm guessing that at least some of them aren't true, but she and ma are getting on well and it's really sweet listening to them chatting.

Sorry to hear not all is well in grumpyland. Feeling any better handy? Fingers crossed it's a yes, and that Plummy's job worries resolve themselves.

I've got a mountain for catching up to do but the sun is shining...