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February 03

Public Transport:- So what's that then?

If you live in England, particularly south east england then you will know what this byline is referring to without even reading a word of this blog.  Psychic?  No, just sick and tired of our public transport system.  Here are common reasons for our train service not running on time, or indeed run at all:
  1. Leaves on the line
  2. 'Signal failure' (did someone jump a light you might ask)
  3. Heavy rain fall
  4. Snow/Sleet/hail
  5. Too hot
  6. Too cold
  7. Not enough staff
  8. Fault with the train
  9. Someone sneezed
Ok, maybe not the last one- but it might have been, but they do tend to make up reasons and play the most vague reason via the tannoy.
This week i.e yesterday and today the reason selected was number 4.  Quite a few inches of snow fell over Sunday night and Monday leaving us without the use of our cars, bikes and even public transport.  Now let's state the obvious: the government is trying to get us to use publi transport.  Now pray tell me this Mr 'President' of 'Britain' how can we use public transport when -

      (a) it isn't running at all
      (b) it cannot cope with rush hour traffic as it stands at the moment
      (c) so many delays occur unannounced that people would be late for work and therefore receive disciplinaries

Lets also not forget the fact that although we are in financial troubles we also have to build and host an amazing olypics, add the fact that English workmen have somehow got to actually finish on time.  How will our transport system cope with all these extra bodies when it cannot cope at the moment?

Lets move on.  Norway, Sweden and other countries such as Canada do get quite nippy and get many feet of snow.  They also have nice warm summers.  When the weather sneezes their transport system doesn't break down.  When the temperatures reach -25 and below, the transport system pays no heed.  Why therefore when they have a wider range of temperatures are our politicians saying that we are encountering 'such adverse and extreme conditions' may I ask?  Any why, when other countries technologies with coping with all of this is available to see, is our transport system so _____ (fill the blank).
Transport leaders and politicians state that we need investment before we can see improvements, now this has been said for many a year and this country is in so much debt it is as long as a time warp from Quantum Leap.  Our commuters pay price hikes each January for less trains, trains with less carriages and delays.  Pray tell when this investment we have all been paying into will occur?

So ladies and gentlemen,  this is my argument, and one that I am sure that many of us hold.  As like tens of thoudands, and yesterday, millions of workers, I am yet again, unable to go to work to do my job.

Many thanks
January 23

Not Long now until the 'Big Day'

Well it's about 14 weeks tomorrow that I say those very famous words, no, not f^*kwit, or f' off, but 'I do'.
Exciting stuff.  I appear to be bouncing around everywhere and have this stupid inane grin on my face, and all sorts of wedding paraphenalia keeps popping through the post everyday.
Nerves?  Sure, but no doubts, just so excited that after putting vague plans into place almost a year ago now, things seemed to have picked up speed and gone into more detail.  If anyone else is organising their own wedding, then the key piece of advice I would offer is to be organised.  This prevents those awful problems occuring.  Can't quite say that it stops your mother getting on your perverbial, but that, only ductape can solve Wink
These wedding things, very expensive they are, let me tell ya that much.  Ours is a very small and subdued affair but those pounds (forget pennies!!) are clocking up.  I'm sure it will be a beautiful and wonderful day but most of all, it will be our day made the way we both want.  Believe it or not but I think involving the groom more than instructing him to turn up with a suit at a given place and time saying the words 'I do' at the right moment is a good idea.  Honestly?  Yep, some may not be very helpful, give a blank look or give that 'sigh' but hey- girls- at least you can say that you tried Open-mouthed
 
Well, my only problem is the dress.  In short, my mother has sown so many doubts and forced ideas into my head that I'm seriously considering turnig up in my PJs Smile
Hell- at least I'll be confortable!!
 
xx
November 09

What's going on here anyways?

Alright one and all?  Good!
Getting a bit nippy now isn't it?  I can confirm that since my last blog we've started using the heating now, bugger being cold lol!
So what's been happening these last few weeks?  A few notable things I'd say;  Hamilton scrapes a win for the championship, interesting how he got that, but say no more as the chap deserves it after what I've been told that other drivers have been saying ('I'll do anything possibe to ensure Hamilton doesn't win'....).  So nice one young man!
The other most notable thing which happened the day after my birthday; Obama won the US election and became the first young and first black president. Out of the two if you look at the majority of opinions, the better and more likable candidate won.  The one not resorting to tactics such as blow the other man's policy's down rather than promoting your own policy's.  My condolances for his family as his grandmother passed away recently, but not before he had the chance to see her.  A similar occurance happened to me on that score, so I can say that it must have meant something to see her that once more before they go.

The last, not most notable thing for the world was my birthday on the 4th November.  As I said, not important to the world, and due to work being demanding, I almost forgot myself until my mum mentioned that it was my birthday 'sometime soon' and 'which day was it' lol!  I've had the last week off work to relax from a frustrating sudden workload and had a relaxing week off.  It is indeed typical that the minute you take any time off you fall ill, but in my case a cold is the least of our worries!  But still not the best of timing!  Saying that, any time off work whether on death's doorstep or not, is not acceptable, so I grudgingly say at least I didn't have to work through my cold Smile.  As to the q how old am I, my answer would be; the year the age loading comes off your car/motorbike insurance.  So how old does that make me?  I'll leave that to you Wink

So that brings us pretty much up to date in the scheme of things, anything I've missed, then obviously it wasn't that important now was it? lol I'm sure you each have your opinions on the issues I've raised so if you wanted to put a penny for your thoughts then by all means, type away....

xx
October 10

MotoGP

Well what can I say? An interesting result in our last round; the three champions:  this years winner, last years winner and the champion prior to that i.e. Rossi, Stoner and Hayden.
And where was my Pedrosa?  Well the clever chap decided to come off the track on the second corner of the very first lap.  Yep.  Great.  So my incentive for watching had gone very early on Sleeping half-moon.
 
So the next one is on the 19th in Sepang, Malysia.  Let's see how the Repsol man goes.  Any idea who his team mate is going to be, as we know Hayden is going to be Stoner's teammate next year.  Those two get on if rumours are to be believed Hot.  Any ideas then let me know.  Will be interesting to see.
 
Anyways, all else is well over here.  We all know the effects that the banking collapse is having everywhere.  I must admit that I mostly place the blame with the origin, as you would naturally.  Had banks not made stupid offers to people who patently can't meet their repayments then why offer them a mortgage?  This is why thresholds exist.  To maintain the system and balance.  The property market has been booming for a few years and people had begun making their living by buying an renovating houses.  This was obviously not going to last; driving up the housing prices to above prices that first time buyers can not longer afford stagnates the market and chains can no longer cope or move as normal.  Never become complacent and assume the markets will always go up.  That is not nature:  what goes up must come down.  This is an old saying and one to understand and use as common sense.
 
My advice: tighten your belts with small luxuries: that takeaway instead of cooking yourself, make your own lunch for work.  Spend money only on essentials and not on CDs, gadgets, books etc.  Let the washing be a full load when washing.  Reduce your reliance on heating and wear a jumper for the extra hour longer before putting the heating on.  We still havn't got the heating on in our house.
Admittedly we are saving that extra bit as we have chosen an unfortunate timing to get married so we are doing everywthing possible including cancelling our DD's for charities.  I even did a boot sale the other week.  That Tesco slogan comes to mind 'every little helps'  believe me when I say it's true. 
 
Once last piece of advice is paramount:  Dont panic.  Panic buying/selling only worsens the situation, it's like sudden movements on a boat, you just dont do it otherwise everyone will go over.  Also try not to let it be the item on the forefront of your mind.  We do not have control over the situation and so why worry about what we can't change.  When it gets a bit much, have a relaxing shower, or play on the 360, whatever works for you.  Personally I find streching and meditation a great help. 
 
I wish everyone the best during these times. 
 
xx Red rose
September 22

Staind & Nickelback

Morning all, well, ok it is actually nearer 3:30pm but hey- who's counting and who cares?!
Troy and I went to Wembley last night to see Nickelback, of whom I've wanted to see for a few years now, ever since we were introduced to them via 'How you remind me'.  Ever since that song I've worked backwards and listened to Curb and The State and obviously the albums that came later on.  Out of all the albums I'd say the raw talent shown in these two early albums are the best.  You can imagine the evenings/weekends spent jamming in someone's garage trying out sounds and riffs before taking the jump of going into the sound studios.  So basically the music and fun that exists before management and record companies dictate the sound and looks produced.
 
Moving on to last night; it was great to find out that the support band was in fact Staind, and man did they play.  The guitarist was blantly on drugs and in doing so, acting like some heavy metal mental patient.  That aside, the band had some cracking tunes and were very entertaining.  They're playing in The Astoria in Jan next year and the way they played- I advise everyone to watch them.  Cracking stuff. 
 
When Nickelback came on they made an entrance let's say; fireworks, flowing sheets and groovy tunes.  Did I mention that they fired T shirts on the crowd and chucked beer on everyone in the mosh pit?  No?  Well now I did.  It was a great night and my only regret is that public transport being what it is that we had to leave early at 10.20 Sad everything was still in full flow, such a shame.  Next time play in Danson Park, Bexleyheath guys ok?  The Moskow State Circus can, so hey- why the hell not?! lol
 
Overall, great night guys.  Would see you again next time you are over here, you exciteable creatures!  nice drum solo mate, very impressive, and Mr K- cute.
 
Xx
 
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