Whitney Houston's death, while a sad thing, was the direct result of very unwise life choices.
Same thing with Michael Jackson when he died! It dominated the news.
Jade Goody, no talent, no hope, sad ending.
Charlie Sheen is 45 and his story is all over the news because he is a substance abuser, an adulterer, sexually promiscuous and obnoxious.
Lindsay Lohan is 24 and her story is all over the news because she is a celebrity drug addict and thief.
Amy Winehouse’s story was all over the papers and shoved down our throats as she was a singer and ‘celebrity’ and a substance abuser.
Something as frivolous as Kim Kardashian's stupid wedding (and short-lived marriage) was thrust upon us!
While the following
Justin Allen 23
Brett Linley 29
Matthew Weikert 29
Justus Bartett 27
Dave Santos 21
Jesse Reed 26
Matthew Johnson 21
Zachary Fisher 24
Brandon King 23
Christopher Goeke 23
and Sheldon Tate 27...
are all British Royal Marines who gave their lives last month for you.
There is no media for them; not even a mention of their names.
Tuesday, 9 July 2013
Wednesday, 29 May 2013
Disappearing Act
I'm still doing my 'disappearing act'.
Since I started my diet last year I've lost seven stone. I've almost reached my target - just another stone and a half to get rid of (then I think I might celebrate with a huge fry-up).
The way things have been going, I think I should reach my target by the end of summer this year.
Since I started my diet last year I've lost seven stone. I've almost reached my target - just another stone and a half to get rid of (then I think I might celebrate with a huge fry-up).
The way things have been going, I think I should reach my target by the end of summer this year.
Sunday, 21 April 2013
An Explanation of Life
On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of
your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give
you a life span of twenty years.'
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you
a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?'
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.'
The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?'
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family. For this, I will give you
a life span of sixty years.'
The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?'
And God agreed again.
On the fourth day, God created man and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.'
But man said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?'
'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Sunday, 3 March 2013
Things That Will Disappear
Whether these changes are good or bad depends in part on how we adapt to them. But, ready or not, here they come.
The Post Office
Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.
The Cheque
Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with cheque by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process cheques. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the cheque. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.
The Newspaper
The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
The Book
You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book.
The Land Line Telephone
Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.
Music
This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalogue items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists
Television
Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery.
The "Things" That You Own
Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.
Privacy
If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again.
All we will have left that can't be changed are "Memories".
And then probably Alzheimers will take that away from you too !
The Post Office
Get ready to imagine a world without the post office. They are so deeply in financial trouble that there is probably no way to sustain it long term. Email, Fed Ex, and UPS have just about wiped out the minimum revenue needed to keep the post office alive. Most of your mail every day is junk mail and bills.
The Cheque
Britain is already laying the groundwork to do away with cheque by 2018. It costs the financial system billions of dollars a year to process cheques. Plastic cards and online transactions will lead to the eventual demise of the cheque. This plays right into the death of the post office. If you never paid your bills by mail and never received them by mail, the post office would absolutely go out of business.
The Newspaper
The younger generation simply doesn't read the newspaper. They certainly don't subscribe to a daily delivered print edition. That may go the way of the milkman and the laundry man. As for reading the paper online, get ready to pay for it. The rise in mobile Internet devices and e-readers has caused all the newspaper and magazine publishers to form an alliance. They have met with Apple, Amazon, and the major cell phone companies to develop a model for paid subscription services.
The Book
You say you will never give up the physical book that you hold in your hand and turn the literal pages. I said the same thing about downloading music from iTunes. I wanted my hard copy CD. But I quickly changed my mind when I discovered that I could get albums for half the price without ever leaving home to get the latest music. The same thing will happen with books. You can browse a bookstore online and even read a preview chapter before you buy. And the price is less than half that of a real book. And think of the convenience! Once you start flicking your fingers on the screen instead of the book, you find that you are lost in the story, can't wait to see what happens next, and you forget that you're holding a gadget instead of a book.
The Land Line Telephone
Unless you have a large family and make a lot of local calls, you don't need it anymore. Most people keep it simply because they've always had it. But you are paying double charges for that extra service. All the cell phone companies will let you call customers using the same cell provider for no charge against your minutes.
Music
This is one of the saddest parts of the change story. The music industry is dying a slow death. Not just because of illegal downloading. It's the lack of innovative new music being given a chance to get to the people who would like to hear it. Greed and corruption is the problem. The record labels and the radio conglomerates are simply self-destructing. Over 40% of the music purchased today is "catalogue items," meaning traditional music that the public is familiar with. Older established artists
Television
Revenues to the networks are down dramatically. Not just because of the economy. People are watching TV and movies streamed from their computers. And they're playing games and doing lots of other things that take up the time that used to be spent watching TV. Prime time shows have degenerated down to lower than the lowest common denominator. Cable rates are skyrocketing and commercials run about every 4 minutes and 30 seconds. I say good riddance to most of it. It's time for the cable companies to be put out of our misery.
The "Things" That You Own
Many of the very possessions that we used to own are still in our lives, but we may not actually own them in the future. They may simply reside in "the cloud." Today your computer has a hard drive and you store your pictures, music, movies, and documents. Your software is on a CD or DVD, and you can always re-install it if need be. But all of that is changing. Apple, Microsoft, and Google are all finishing up their latest "cloud services." That means that when you turn on a computer, the Internet will be built into the operating system. So, Windows, Google, and the Mac OS will be tied straight into the Internet. If you click an icon, it will open something in the Internet cloud. If you save something, it will be saved to the cloud. And you may pay a monthly subscription fee to the cloud provider. In this virtual world, you can access your music or your books, or your whatever from any laptop or handheld device. That's the good news. But, will you actually own any of this "stuff" or will it all be able to disappear at any moment in a big "Poof?" Will most of the things in our lives be disposable and whimsical? It makes you want to run to the closet and pull out that photo album, grab a book from the shelf, or open up a CD case and pull out the insert.
Privacy
If there ever was a concept that we can look back on nostalgically, it would be privacy. That's gone. It's been gone for a long time anyway. There are cameras on the street, in most of the buildings, and even built into your computer and cell phone. But you can be sure that 24/7, "They" know who you are and where you are, right down to the GPS coordinates, and the Google Street View. If you buy something, your habit is put into a zillion profiles, and your ads will change to reflect those habits. "They" will try to get you to buy something else. Again and again.
All we will have left that can't be changed are "Memories".
And then probably Alzheimers will take that away from you too !
Friday, 1 February 2013
Older Generation Not Green Enough
When at a store checkout the young cashier suggested that I should bring my own shopping bags in future because plastic bags weren't good for the environment.
I apologised and explained that we didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days.
The cashier said, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."
She was right - our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got blunt.
But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two streets.
But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 2200 watts - wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the county of Yorkshire. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not polystyrene or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank water from a fountain or a tap when we were thirsty instead of demanding a plastic bottle flown in from another country. We accepted that a lot of food was seasonal and didn’t expect to have out of season products flown thousands of air miles around the world. We actually cooked food that didn’t come out of a packet, tin or plastic wrapping and we could even wash our own vegetables and chop our own salad.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people caught a train or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical socket in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza place.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we oldies were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
I apologised and explained that we didn't have this green thing back in my earlier days.
The cashier said, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."
She was right - our generation didn't have the green thing in its day. Back then, we returned milk bottles, pop bottles and beer bottles to the shop. The shop sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blades in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got blunt.
But we didn't have the green thing back in our day.
We walked up stairs, because we didn't have an escalator in every shop and office building. We walked to the shop and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two streets.
But she was right. We didn't have the green thing in our day.
Back then, we washed the baby's nappies because we didn't have the throw-away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy gobbling machine burning up 2200 watts - wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days. Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing.
But that young lady is right. We didn't have the green thing back in our day.
Back then, we had one TV, or radio, in the house - not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief, not a screen the size of the county of Yorkshire. In the kitchen, we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us. When we packaged a fragile item to send in the post, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not polystyrene or plastic bubble wrap. Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn petrol just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power. We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity.
But she's right. We didn't have the green thing back then.
We drank water from a fountain or a tap when we were thirsty instead of demanding a plastic bottle flown in from another country. We accepted that a lot of food was seasonal and didn’t expect to have out of season products flown thousands of air miles around the world. We actually cooked food that didn’t come out of a packet, tin or plastic wrapping and we could even wash our own vegetables and chop our own salad.
But we didn't have the green thing back then.
Back then, people caught a train or a bus, and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their mothers into a 24-hour taxi service. We had one electrical socket in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerised gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 2,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest pizza place.
But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we oldies were just because we didn't have the green thing back then?
Saturday, 26 January 2013
Tiddly Jack
There's mismusters, slop chits, tot time and pay
There's rising and shining and hitting the hay
There's thickers and strongers and neaters as well
There's DQ's and chokey and the tiller flat cell
There's aft and there's for'ard, abeam and abaft
To civvies this cackle seems awfully daft
But to us in the Andrew it doesn't seem strange
Like the draft chits the Jossman can always arrange
We're always being seen off and getting green rubs
And chasing up rubbers and looking for subs
And going ashore like a great herd of cattle
And getting filled in and put in the rattle
There's runs out to Honkers that to Jack are just fine
There's times when we say "Oh roll on my nine"
And when nine comes and we're out on the dole
In old civvy street, where we don't know a soul
We think of the good times and wish we were back
In bells, silk and lanyard... A real tiddly Jack!
There's rising and shining and hitting the hay
There's thickers and strongers and neaters as well
There's DQ's and chokey and the tiller flat cell
There's aft and there's for'ard, abeam and abaft
To civvies this cackle seems awfully daft
But to us in the Andrew it doesn't seem strange
Like the draft chits the Jossman can always arrange
We're always being seen off and getting green rubs
And chasing up rubbers and looking for subs
And going ashore like a great herd of cattle
And getting filled in and put in the rattle
There's runs out to Honkers that to Jack are just fine
There's times when we say "Oh roll on my nine"
And when nine comes and we're out on the dole
In old civvy street, where we don't know a soul
We think of the good times and wish we were back
In bells, silk and lanyard... A real tiddly Jack!
Monday, 24 December 2012
A Sailor's Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, the ship was
out steaming,
Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming.
They lived in a tin can with racks tight and small,
In a 30-man mess deck, cramped one and all.
I had come down the funnel with presents to give,
And to see in this War Canoe who might perhaps live.
I looked all about, a strange sight did I see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stockings were hung, shined boots close at hand,
On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land.
They had medals and badges and awards of all kind,
And a sober thought came into my mind.
For this place was different, so dark and so dreary,
I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly.
A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone,
Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.
The face was so gentle, the room squared away,
This was the Royal Navy Sailor today.
This was the hero I saw on TV,
Defending our country so we could be free.
I realised the families that I would visit this night,
Owed their lives to these Sailors so willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year,
Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice."
"Defending the seas all days of the year,
So others may live and be free with no fear."
I thought for a moment, what a difficult road,
To live a life guided by Honour and Code.
After all it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway!
But freedom isn't free and it's sailors who pay.
The Sailor say's to our country "be free and sleep tight,
No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night.
The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still,
I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night's cold chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night,
This guardian of honour so willing to fight.
The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure,
Commanded, "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas, and All is Secure!"
Sailors stood watch while others were dreaming.
They lived in a tin can with racks tight and small,
In a 30-man mess deck, cramped one and all.
I had come down the funnel with presents to give,
And to see in this War Canoe who might perhaps live.
I looked all about, a strange sight did I see,
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stockings were hung, shined boots close at hand,
On the bulkhead hung pictures of a far distant land.
They had medals and badges and awards of all kind,
And a sober thought came into my mind.
For this place was different, so dark and so dreary,
I had found the house of a Sailor, once I saw clearly.
A Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone,
Curled up in a rack and dreaming of home.
The face was so gentle, the room squared away,
This was the Royal Navy Sailor today.
This was the hero I saw on TV,
Defending our country so we could be free.
I realised the families that I would visit this night,
Owed their lives to these Sailors so willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
And grownups would celebrate on Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom each day of the year,
Because of the Sailor, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
On a cold Christmas Eve on a sea, far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The Sailor awakened and I heard a calm voice,
"Santa, don't cry, this life is my choice."
"Defending the seas all days of the year,
So others may live and be free with no fear."
I thought for a moment, what a difficult road,
To live a life guided by Honour and Code.
After all it's Christmas Eve and the ship's underway!
But freedom isn't free and it's sailors who pay.
The Sailor say's to our country "be free and sleep tight,
No harm will come, not on my watch and not on this night.
The Sailor rolled over and drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent, so still,
I watched as the Sailor shivered from the night's cold chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold dark night,
This guardian of honour so willing to fight.
The Sailor rolled over and with a voice strong and sure,
Commanded, "Carry on Santa, It's Christmas, and All is Secure!"
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Time Flies
Where did November go?
I can't believe how fast time is passing these days.
Someone once told me that the older you get, the faster time passes. I had no idea they meant this fast though. The next thing you know, you'll be wondering whether it's worthwhile getting out of bed - are you going to have enough time to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea before bed time comes around again.
I've always said that it would be nice to turn back the clock and go back to my teenage years, but I think that statement should be revised. Can we stop the clock instead? Or at least slow it down.
I can't believe how fast time is passing these days.
Someone once told me that the older you get, the faster time passes. I had no idea they meant this fast though. The next thing you know, you'll be wondering whether it's worthwhile getting out of bed - are you going to have enough time to put the kettle on and make a cup of tea before bed time comes around again.
I've always said that it would be nice to turn back the clock and go back to my teenage years, but I think that statement should be revised. Can we stop the clock instead? Or at least slow it down.
Monday, 29 October 2012
Dark Nights
After all this time you'd think a person would be used to certain things.
So why is it that I always have trouble adjusting to daylight saving time? And with the weather getting colder, I think that's a good reason to go into hibernation for the next few months.
Someone wake me up when spring arrives.
So why is it that I always have trouble adjusting to daylight saving time? And with the weather getting colder, I think that's a good reason to go into hibernation for the next few months.
Someone wake me up when spring arrives.
Sunday, 23 September 2012
Mobile Phones
A lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen.
20 minutes later when she called her hubby from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.' When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was alread
20 minutes later when she called her hubby from a pay phone telling him what had happened, hubby says 'I received your text asking about our Pin number and I've replied a little while ago.' When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was alread
y withdrawn.
The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.
Moral of the story:
Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mum, etc.... And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.
Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you!
It's better being safe than sorry.
The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text 'hubby' in the contact list and got hold of the pin number. Within 20 minutes he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.
Moral of the story:
Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mum, etc.... And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.
Also, when you're being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you!
It's better being safe than sorry.
Saturday, 25 August 2012
Play Time
It's been a while since I had a bit of a play about with the design and layout of this page. I did a bit of playing today and changed the layout - let's see how long this one lasts. I'll have to see if I can find time to come back and look at some gadgets at some stage, there may be some new ones that catch my eye.
Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Dieting Can Be Expensive
I'm not so sure that this losing weight plan of mine is such a good idea. I gave up smoking a few years ago and my weight just shot up. I've not been particularly bothered about it in the past and haven't done anything about it. But at the beginning of this year I decided to try and shed a few of those excess pounds I'd put on.
At the time I thought it might be a good idea. I have a lot of old clothes from when I was a little slimmer and I thought it would be nice to get back into them, especially as I don't have the money to spare to go out and buy new outfits. I didn't think things would turn out as they have done though and its starting to become expensive.
I'm losing weight so fast that the clothes I'd hoped to get back in to are now too big for me. I've lost three stone in the last three months and I am rapidly running out of things to wear. And that is what's turning this whole weight loss plan into a major problem.
At the start I thought that I might lose weight gradually and I'd be able to replace my clothing as and when it was needed, but it didn't work out that way and I'm going to have to replace just about every item of clothing I own. It's not going to be easy.
At the time I thought it might be a good idea. I have a lot of old clothes from when I was a little slimmer and I thought it would be nice to get back into them, especially as I don't have the money to spare to go out and buy new outfits. I didn't think things would turn out as they have done though and its starting to become expensive.
I'm losing weight so fast that the clothes I'd hoped to get back in to are now too big for me. I've lost three stone in the last three months and I am rapidly running out of things to wear. And that is what's turning this whole weight loss plan into a major problem.
At the start I thought that I might lose weight gradually and I'd be able to replace my clothing as and when it was needed, but it didn't work out that way and I'm going to have to replace just about every item of clothing I own. It's not going to be easy.
Tuesday, 26 June 2012
Time Flies
Where has the year gone? It's over half way through already and nothing has been done. I've always said that I have plenty of time on my hands, but nowadays I just don't seem to have the time for anything. It is so true about time going faster as you get older - very soon it will come to the point where I get up in the morning and I think, "do I have time to make a cup of tea before bed time?"
Friday, 25 May 2012
Independence Day
Thirty years ago today I was just off the Falklands Islands on a
ship which was under attack from Argentine missiles. We turned into the threat
as Exocet missiles were approaching, the ship’s company were ordered to ‘hit
the deck’ and take cover. One of the missiles passed us and hit the Atlantic
Conveyor two miles away. A few minutes later another, low, fast contact was
detected and we fired three salvoes of Sea Dart missiles at it in quick
succession whilst it closed.
I had just left the Main Communications Office when the order to
‘hit the deck’ was given. When you’re lying on the deck covering your head trying
to protect yourself from a missile that you’re never going to see coming, a
million and one thoughts are going through your head - I was still clutching
the telegram that I had just picked up saying that my son was born two days
ago. At the time, the thought most at the front of my mind was “will I get to
get to see my new baby.”
After the attack, when the ship’s company started recovering from
the recumbent positions in which they had ‘hit the deck’ it was realised that
it was the speed of the attack that was so striking. Gradually life returned to
normal, heart beats slowed down, voices came down an octave, and everything
happened a little more slowly. Everyone felt relieved – each one of us a little
older, and a little greyer.
Sunday, 15 April 2012
The Maltese George Cross
Today is the 70th anniversary of the award of the George Cross to Malta.
King George VI awarded the George Cross to Malta for its heroism in the early days of World War Two. In his message to the island's governor, King George VI said: "To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta, to bear witness to a heroism and a devotion that will long be famous in history."
At the time of the George Cross award, military resources and food rations in Malta were practically finished. Fuel was restricted to military action and heavily rationed, the population was on the brink of starvation, and even ammunition was running out, so much that Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns could only fire a few rounds per day.
Italian battleships of the Regia Marina out-gunned the British, the German airforce had superior aircraft until late in the day, when Spitfires were finally sent to Malta. Also at this time, German and Italian strategists were planning a sea and air invasion of the Maltese Islands. The invasion was continuously postponed until it became too late, as the Maltese Islands finally received their vital supply of fuel, food and munitions.
On 15 August 1942, on the feast of Santa Maria, a convoy of Royal and Merchant Navy ships made port at Valletta's Grand Harbour, after completing one of the more heroic maritime episodes in recent history. To-date, this event remains commemorated in Malta in remembrance of that gift from heaven, the Convoy of Santa Maria, and all the men who lived and died in this and previous attempts to bring supplies to Malta.
Wednesday, 14 March 2012
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Home Shopping (again)
I'm convinced that Asda are trying hard to lose their regular customers. Towards the end of last year they failed to deliver within the allocated time slot, and last month they delivered my order with with several items missing (although credit is due to them for not actually charging me for the missing items).
Unfortunately I can't say the same for them this month. Not only are there items missing for which I haven't been charged for, there are also items missing from my order which I HAVE been charged for. After contacting their Customer Services department, the money that I was overcharged was eventually credited to my account. But, really, is this the way to run a home shopping service?
Because the money has been credited to my online shopping account, the only way I have of recovering it is by doing more online shopping with Asda. Let's hope that next months' shopping experience is a better one than what the previous two months have been. If not, then I will be using another supermarket.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Asda Home Shopping
It wasn't all that long ago since I was going on about how convenient it is to be able to do your shopping from the comfort of your armchair, and how good it is not to have to struggle on and off buses with heavy bags of shopping. How did we ever manage in the past?
I just found out that it doesn't always work like that though. One of the reasons that I use online shopping is to save having to carry all the heavy items like tinned goods and cartons of milk. I only do the shopping once a month and try to get most of the heavy things in one go, perhaps taking a trip into town later on in the month if I run out of some of the lighter goods.
For that reason I usually purchase 12 cartons of milk and my tinned goods amongst my monthly online shopping. But yesterday I was let down big style by the supermarket. They delivered my shopping with items missing, saying that some of the tinned goods and the milk was not available 'at the time of picking'. It's not rocket science - why not do the 'picking' when the items ARE available?
I've just had to pay a visit to the supermarket to get my missing items, and struggle home on the bus with them - not much fun if you struggle to walk because of a dodgy hip.
Supermarkets are always asking for your feedback about how happy you are with them so I sent off an email to let them know how 'happy' I was with their home shopping service. Their reply was, "Here's £2, now be a good chap and go away." Although it was worded slightly different, as in, "As a gesture of goodwill, for the trouble caused, we have attached a free delivery e-voucher to your online account," but it still amounted to the same thing - here's a couple of pounds, deal with it and move on.
I may be strapped for cash but I'm not that desperate. I didn't send the email to try and earn a couple of pennies from them, I sent it so that they could try and improve the service they provide. Fat chance of that happening.
Keep your £2.00, Asda - try offering a better service instead. Or is that too much to ask?
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Out With the Old, In With the New
Ok. So that's it for another year. The Christmas decorations are down and I'm ready to see in the new year. Let's see what 2012 brings us. Happy new year everyone. Hope you all have a good one.
Wednesday, 14 December 2011
Christmas Decorations
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| Merry Christmas |
I spent an hour or two putting my Christmas decorations up yesterday. Seeing as I only have a small flat I thought it more sensible having a small Christmas tree - it's tiny, it only stands two feet tall. The hard part was finding small baubles to put on it, I couldn't find many places that sold miniature decorations but I eventually found some online. I thought that it would only be a ten minute job putting a small tree like that up, but I couldn't have been more wrong. It was such a fidgety job with all the tiny baubles that it took a little while longer than what I thought it would. I got the positioning of the tree wrong too. Initially I thought it would look nice in front of the window, but after moving the furniture around I decided it didn't look right there so I had to move all the furniture back again.
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| Fairy Land |
I dug out the fairies and the unicorns as well but as I don't have a large flat I've had to put them all on top of a small bookcase. I haven't bothered with the imitation snow this year so it doesn't look as good as what it has done in the past. But I don't suppose that really matters, there's only me that sees them. Still, it makes the place look a little bit more 'Christmassy' and reminds me what time of year it is. Merry Christmas everyone.
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