Waterboard Misery

And the fun didn't stop there.

I'd forgotten my toothbrush. So Ray brought it round for me after he finished work. One crisis averted. But there was another. The water went off.

I was sitting eating my dinner when the pipes suddenly started making some very strange gurgling noises. I finished up eating, tried to run the taps to wash up and nothing happened except an awful lot of noise. I got in touch with the guy who's house this is and he said I should ring the waterboard because this has happened before. So me who hates ringing people I don't know about things I don't really understand picked up the phone dialled the number and spoke to a very lovely woman who said they'd sent an engineer out to look into the problem. She said to ring back in an hour if the water still wasn't on. It wasn't so I rang again. A hydrant had burst (I think that's what she said) and was being fixed and the water was due on any minute. True to her word it did come back on. But it was spitting and gurgling and a lovely yellow or green in colour. Yum. I had to drink Pepsi Max as my Last Drink Before Bed and cleaned my teeth with the minimal of water. How the hell I fell asleep after being doped up on Pepsi Max I'll never know; that stuff usually gets me shaking and wide-eyed. This morning the water was still brown. I rang the waterboard again who said they were going to flush it all through again (whatever that means) and that if I ran the kitchen tap it would eventually clear (I had already done that for about an hour the previous night - and I hate wasting water! - and it hadn't worked...).

It does seem to have cleared up a bit now but I'm not risking it just yet. I mean, there's all these stories about people getting sick in North Wales from contaminated water and there's me seeing yellow water spurting from the taps... I know it's probably safe enough but yellow water just conjures up bad thoughts, doesn't it?

The gardener also came round this morning and spent about two hours mowing the lawn, when it really should have taken no more than thirty minutes. I'd planned on sitting out the back reading in the sun (yes we have sun today!). Instead I sat in the freezing cold living-room and finished up Song of Susannah (just as weirdly short as I remembered it being). So now the plan is to read The Dark Tower in the garden this afternoon. I might even get out the Bible and have a read of that too. I always enjoy reading the Bible outdoors; feels as though I'm closer to God somehow.

That's the plan anyway. To be honest my plans don't tend to pan out too well...

Labels: bible, dog-sitting, life, reading

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |  

How The Day Ended

Ray came home early from work to join me in my lazy day. Well, that wasn't really why he came home early. The why is because his co-woker decided to give himself the day off and didn't inform Ray until an hour after Ray had been sitting in his house waiting to get going! The excuse was the van was broken. Ray had his car, obviously, and therefore they could have gone to work in that but that didn't happen so said he was going to do as much work as he could on his own in the house they're working on. By 2pm he couldn't do anymore cos he needed tools that were in the van, which he hadn't had chance to get that morning. So he wasn't in the best of moods when he got home. I'm of the belief that work life should be a happy place. Usually it is for him but his co-worker is the boss's son so although the boss and son might communicate between each other neither one of them thinks to let Ray know. It happens a lot and is usually the only reason Ray gets pissed at them. It wouldn't be so bad if he wasn't being paid minimum wage. He works hard and deserves more. When they piss about like this he gets annoyed and gets very itchy feet. On top of that we can't afford to have random day's off because that means we're down a fair chunk of money, which just isn't workable for us. I know things will be fine again today (no early arrivals yet anyway) but I do wonder just how much longer this will continue. Going self-employed is an option we've been discussing cos then his boss would pay him on a day rate (of his own choosing) and be able to do other work for people so really he could work/earn as much or as little as he chose to. But there's risks involved. More financial than anything else. Such as the dreaded tax man. Ray's been self-employed before so he knows what he's doing but there's actual bills that need paying that could see us out on the street if they're not paid this time round. Ahh there's always decisions to make, isn't there? And they're never easy. Any one gone self-employed? Any advice? Scream yay or nay!

Anyway, my lazy day did continue. I held Ray while I read. He slept on and off, waking up to tickle me every now and then. We made love, we made food. Ray then went out to the cinema with his cousin. I answered some emails, wrote in my diary. Then I decided it would be best to wrap Ray's birthday presents up because I think they're so so pretty that I keep getting them out to look at them! It's quite pathetic. So last night I wrapped them up and they're now hiding in Jem's room waiting for the two weeks to be up. The rest of the evening was spent laughing at Halo 2 and reading. My reading bug is fierce at the moment. I cannot put the damn book down (I'm re-reading the Dark Tower series so it's one of those seven books). I love it when I can't stop reading; it always, always helps to improve my writing. Ray returned home with chocolate and Starbursts (remember when they were called Opal Fruits? I still call them that; Starbursts is such a stupid name and makes no sense), which I picked at until it was time for bed.

I woke this morning pining longingly for my lazy day to be able to start over again. I doubt I'll have another day like that again this summer. I think you're allowed one a season, right? Roll on Autumn then! ;)

Labels: birthday, life, money, presents, ray, reading, self-employed, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |  

Just Lazing About

I've had a very lazy start to a day.

I woke up to say goodbye to Ray this morning and decided that I wanted a lie-in. "Leave a note for Jemma to tell her to feed the dogs for me," I mumbled. I fell asleep before he'd even left the room again. I thought I slept for hours after that (even though I knew I couldn't have really cos I have a second alarm set for when I have to take my pill and that hadn't sounded). I had very vivid dreams about attending a prom, Gary Barlow was my date and was going to show up wearing red just like me. But I wasn't wearing red. And when he did turn up I couldn't actually see him. When it was time to leave loads of people started crushing towards the taxis and one guy got ran over and I heard his bones crunch. In the dream I had a panic attack. It was a very strange dream. Usually I can make out where the weird bits come from, where my subconscious has pulled them from, but with this one I'm at a loss. I'll blame it on the going back to sleep; that usually gives me weird dreams.

I wasn't up and about 'til gone ten and wasn't showered and dressed 'til twelve. Such a lazy day.

But it's raining out so I knew we wouldn't be walking the dogs (Martha refuses to walk in the rain for some reason). I haven't had a lie-in in weeks so I thought I may as well act on my impulse and have a lazy day. It feels fantastic. I've just been reading (the Bible and Wizard & Glass) and poking my head out the window to watch the rain fall. I haven't seen this much rain in ages. It smells fantastic.

I'm sure there's more to say but my mind is lazy. I don't know if I'm going to write or not today. A part of me thinks what will come will be sloppy and bad, another part of me can't keep away from the story.

So I think I'll make a cup of tea, eat a few squares of chocolate and see what happens with this grey, drizzly, lazy day :)

Labels: dreams, life, reading, weather, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |  

Me & Myself

I had the house to myself yesterday. All day.

Jem and Mammy went to see Kylie Minogue up in Manchester yesterday. So not only did I get some Me Time (oh precious Me Time, I'd forgotten what that time was like), which entailled me cleaning, writing, and reading two-thirds of The Gunslinger. But I also got some Alone Time with Ray. Which meant eating lasagne and Tagliatelle (it seems to be our food of love ;D), watching Grand Designs (have I mentioned how I've commissioned Ray to build me my dream home?) & The Fifth Element (Ray fancies Milla Jovovich, while I've always had a thing for Bruce Willis); and much, much fun in the bedroom.

The house is all mine for another four hours or so, depending on traffic, and then I'll have to give it back to part-ownership again. I'd forgotten just how much I like being by myself. I was even a little put out when Ray came back from work last night, whereas usually I'm buzzing around by the door waiting for him to get back. I used to spend 90% of my time alone so having spent the last two years pretty much glued to Ray's side (don't get me wrong: it's a lovely place to be stuck) I'd forgotten how much of a loner I really am at heart. Don't worry I have no plans of ditching Ray to return to my loner-lifestyle (damn that pesky love thing!); I was just pleasantly reminded these past twenty-four hours that I can and do love my own company. It was still much more fun playing games with Ray in the evening, though ;)

I'm off unwrap some presents I'd ordered for Ray's birthday; some extremely cool (do not click the links Ray!!) presents. There's also this and this. My boy's a nerd. I always wanted a nerd. I prayed for many years and finally I got one ;)

Enjoy your weekends!

Labels: films, jem, life, love, mammy, ray, reading

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |  

Choosing Books

I'm having trouble settling down with a book. I still want to read and still find myself curling up with a book but I can't seem to find the right one for my mood.

I thought I'd love the Mary Magdalene book but that didn't grab me at all...

The Secret Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Michelle Roberts

rating: 1 of 5 stars

It's not often I can't finish a book but this one just didn't grab me at all. I thought it might be interesting but it wasn't. A lot of people have said it's controversial and passionate but for me it just didn't show me anything new. I'm not at all shocked by the idea that Jesus might have had sex, that he might have been in love with someone. The idea that women need to be liberated and celebrated in the Bible isn't a great cause of mine. I believe if you are a true Christian then you know that God means love and that's all that really matters - be you woman or man: both are equal, be you whore or celibate: God loves you.

I hope to go back to the book in a few weeks time. Maybe on second read I'll get further along. I'd like to complete it if only to see what makes it so controversial.

After putting that one down I had an urge to read one of the books that I read every year or so but I still couldn't decide on which one. Plus I had a couple of other books from the library I wanted to read because God knows if I'd find them again. I struck it lucky.

The Girls by Lori Lansens

rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a very touching book about sisterhood, only it's tackled in a way which I found to be very true-to-life. The gripes the sister's have about each other, the love that they share which is very unique, as any person who has a close bond with their sibling can relate to.

My favourite thing about this book was the fact that although they both witnessed the same events they remember them in completely different ways to each other. That is something I think we should all try to remember: that no matter how we're affected by something the person next to you will be seeing it in a completely different way and reacting to it accordingly.

I was sad to see the end of this book. The ending was bittersweet and brought tears to my eyes. This is a story that is both moving and funny: a book I will definitely be recommending to others.

The only problem is I enjoyed that book so much I don't know what to read next. I thought about Stephen King's Dark Tower series but I don't think it's quite right for my mood. Then I wondered about Cell because I really enjoyed that one. But I think maybe I might go back to the Idlewild Series because I love, love, love those books.

Any good book recommendations for me?

Labels: reading, religion, review

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |  

Dust and Darkness and Home Improvements

I got waylaid and ended up reading...

Children of the Dust by Louise Lawrence


rating: 5 of 5 stars

I first read this book when I stole it from my older sister who was reading it for a school project. The first section of the book "Sarah" had me in tears. Being of a similar age to Sarah I was really upset by the horrors she had to face.

The next two books go on to show the next generations of Sarah's family and how they survived the nuclear holocaust. It's an interesting view. I like the way the author didn't shy away from the mutilation, from the harsh reality of life after a nuclear holocaust.

It still is one of my favourite books and I read it frequently.

View all my reviews.

I love that book so much. I think it's what made me a little bit sickly obsessed with nuclear war. I'm calling it research for my next novel but really that's a lie. My next book does not deal with nuclear war but it does deal with bombs of some nature, more the long-term effects. Yes, the new novel is dark.

There was also, rather spookily, a programme on TV What Would Happen If Human's Suddenly Disappeared, which was also very helpful.

I'm a little weirded out by how much information I'm getting without even having to really sit down and do proper research. I'll take it a sign from God that my next project should be Olimpia Valley. That I should stop thinking about what to do and start planning the damn book. At least sort out the concept. I still don't know whether to do a series or one big novel, how to set the chapters out - long or short? One character's perspective or a few? Whether to pepper the chapters with additional information, such as history and politics? Hmm, so many questions to answer. I love this part best of all. So many ideas, so much excitement, so much hope.

And last night Ray and I went out on an impromptu date to... Homebase, where we played house. I've found the toilet seat of my dreams. Ray says he'll buy me it for Christmas ;) I also fell in love with some handles for the kitchen units (can't find them on the website...). And something we should be picking up this weekend: Shower Rail because the plastic crappy one the landlord left us with has fallen apart for the last time. I can't wait 'til we're able to do proper decorating in our own house.

Labels: house stuff, olimpia valley, ray, reading, review, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |  

Enjoying Home, & Away

Wow it's been a busy weekend.

First of all: Joe Absolom finally has a new project. So I was running round (online obviously) trying to find news about that. I love it when he does new projects cos I get to play with my site :)

The weekend was ruled by dog-sitting. Not paid this time, just looking after the dogs, cats, rabbits and birds for my parents while they're away on their holidays. Amber was doing some days and when she was out me and Ray took up the challenge. The first afternoon was awful. The dogs were wound up because we'd brought Sweepie with us and just basically misbehaved the entire time. We went back Saturday for the night and that was much more bearable. We watched Alien Vs Predator - Requiem. It was Ray's choice of film. I didn't really understand what was going on so just before it ended I had to admit my stupidity and ask him what the Predator guy was up to. He explained the history of it (why didn't the film explain he was after the Queen Alien?) and then it made more sense. It was still quite a pants film, though.

In between all the dog-sitting, I suggested we go have a picnic in the water park. That was really nice. The sun was out, it was lovely and warm, the dogs had a great time, and we treated ourselves to some yummy food. Mmm. The coast was covered in mist from the sea so we went for a walk in it. It was quite spooky. And when we came home the second time from my parents house, we decided to eat pizza and chips outside in the garden. It was great to be able to really enjoy our surroundings and make the most of it. The picnic, the walk on the beach, the dinner in the garden: it was great to really appreciate this place, this place that is my home. I'm so lucky :)

You can see pictures from my weekend here, including shots from home, the picnic, the beach and our dinner in the garden.

Not being at home for most of the weekend does mean I have heaps of stuff to catch up on today. Expect multiple comments on missed blog entries, emails answered, my hair freshly dyed and a new book to read because Ray liked the sound of other one I was meant to start and has nicked it to read first.

Labels: amber, beach, daddy, dog-sitting, films, house stuff, joe absolom, life, mammy, photos, ray, reading, websites

by Ys | COMMENTS? 3 | permalink |  

Working , Writing, Photographing & Reading

The dog did run away again. He got past me, dug up the stuff I'd put in the hole he'd made and scarpered. He was back by morning and I practically ran out the door when it was time for me to go home. That was officially the most stressful day on the job so far. For the first time in ages, Ray and I slept in each other's arms all night last night. Usually one of us gets too hot or my neck starts to hurt (I have a weakness in my neck from when I pulled it a few years ago) so we pull apart during the night. I think I was so desperate for some protection I stayed close to him all night. It was nice. I'd say it might become the norm but I know it won't so there's no point. I overheat when I'm asleep. I'm sure there's some scientific reason for it. I'm cold when I'm awake and boiling when asleep. Weird.

Today I finally did some writing. It's felt like writing is just a hobby I do if I have time lately. Not as if writing is my full-time job, which it is. I hate it when it gets like that. It's all these jobs. I know they're only for a couple of days but it breaks up the routine and then I can't get back to it cos I'm catching up on other things that need doing.

I've uploaded some new photos, which are from various weekends/weekdays I've spent enjoying the sun. There's a lot of the dogs this time round (as if that's not the norm ;D).

I've also become a little obsessed with Good Reads and have been posting some small reviews of the books I've read recently. I always find book reviews helpful when I'm choosing a book to read but I never write any so I thought I'd put that right been as I must have read about ten books in the last month! And a lot of them have been really quirky and very me. Such as Landscape With Animals which is an erotic but has more to it than just that - so rare to find. And Polystom which was both sci-fi and olde worlde - again, extremely rare to find such a mix. It's so nice to find other authors who mix genres like I do. There is hope for me yet :) And even if there isn't it does prove that there are good books out there.

Labels: dog-sitting, photos, ray, reading, websites, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 2 | permalink |  

Best Day of Summer

Yesterday might have been the best of summer for me. It was just one of those really nice days where everything was... well, nice.

The day started, as I said yesterday, with walking the horses from the bottom field to the top. That's an uphill walk and I do not do hills very well. I don't know why. I just think I don't have the legs for it - or the stamina or something. I've just always been crap with uphills. Even when I was a child I used to have to stop halfway up a hill for a breather. Crap lungs, I guess. I had two uncles, one aunt and two second-cousins with me yesterday. Everyone found the beginning of the hill hard but there didn't seem to be any stopping so I just let Meg's head go down into the grass - "Oops! Meg don't eat grass," I said outloud. "Stay there, good girl," I added under my breath. But after that brief stop I was okay. Me and my aunt walked up the back (meg also struggles with hills cos she's older) and just chatted all the way up the hill. Then we hit the flat of the cycle track and Meg decided she wanted to go up front, and suddenly had some spring in her step! That's okay for me - I can walk on flat for hours - it's the ups and downs I'm crap on. So I made it to the field in once piece. The horses got excited once in the field and me and Mammy got booted aside a little and only just stumbled out in time.

Then all of us humans had to walk back down to the original field via the park to get back to our cars. I ended up talking with one of my uncles - the one I looked after the house of - and he was telling me tales about when he and my gran thought they'd killed me this one time when they put me on a huge round-about and got it spinning really fast and I slowly slid off it and bounced across the park. I was okay but they didn't tell Mammy - except once in later years - in case she never let me and Jem go stay with them again, hehehe. Most of the injury stories from when I was a child involves me bouncing away from harm. I was a rather round child, I suppose...

Back at the cars, I had thanks and kisses off everyone - always nice - and then they set off back home and me and Mammy came back here. There was some lunch and then we went shopping because Mammy wanted to do a BBQ for everyone that night. On the way she told me some jokes, which she forgot the punchlines to so had me laughing for all the wrong reasons. We did some recycling and then headed home.

In the afternoon I sat in one of the garden chairs, curled my feet up underneath me and read my Harry Potter book (nearly finished it now). I did that until I stopped to feed the cats, read some more, then stopped to help with the BBQ. The BBQ-making was fun and we were all very impressed by how well we'd done. Then the men came home from work - Ray first, Daddy late. We ate 'til we burst, shoved an Ice-cream-Mars in as well then collapsed.

After a mug of coffee we took Martha and Sweepie up the road for an evening walk, which are always nice. Then it was back home for a game of Halo 2 for Ray because he's stuck on this one bit (we all got stuck there but me and Jem have completed it now and Ray is most embarrassed at being beaten by a couple of girls, espeically when he's been playing the game like an expert for years). He's still stuck!

We then cuddled up on the sofa to watch "Big Brother". Anyone else think this Halfway House stuff is a bit crap? To be honest, it all seems to have gone a bit pants now. We've had the conclusions to two of the main things: 1. Charlie got evicted and now knows she is a silly bitch (well, whether she knows it or not I don't know actually...); 2. Chanelle finally realised Ziggi was treating her like crap and only saying he liked her to look good when really he doesn't want her at all. So after some late-night dry-humping, the next day he dumped her, and said some rather nasty things; after that she pretty much decided she'd be better off leaving. She seems really nice out of the house, as well. But in the house seems boring at the moment. The new housemates are pants, the original housemates are just sad and mopey cos their friends either keep leaving or getting shoved into the Halfway House. All seems a bit lame. It'd better pick up again soon.

I ended the night with my Harry Potter book again :) Very nearly finished it now. Which will be sad, but good, like it always is when you finish a book you're enjoying.

And that was my Best Day of Summer... so far...

Labels: bbq, big brother, daddy, family, halo, harry potter, horses, jem, life, mammy, martha, ray, reading, sweepie

by Ys | COMMENTS? 1 | permalink |  

No Internet: New Crushes

I've been away working. It was a quiet time. The computer locked me out after the first night so I couldn't amuse myself online or do any writing. So I read a lot (another book down - onto the third in the series now. Yum. I've also ordered myself a little book porn cos I haven't got a good erotica book in ages. Considering I have a man keeping me happy these days I opted for a bit of lesbian action in the literary. I bought Nights in White Cotton. Yeah, it caught my eye cos the girl on the cover is cute.

So with no internet connection I had to amuse myself with the TV. There's Sky in that house so that's a bonus. I mostly played with the music channels. When that crappy Avril Lavigne song wasn't stalking me

-- strangely, in the car home today, when the song came on the radio, my mother turned to me and said, quite seriously, "This isn't a very nice song. Isn't she too old to be singing songs like this anyway?"

I answered, "Yeah. She's married, too. The cute guy from Sum41!"

Mammy, not knowing who they were, ignored my sighs and said, "Well, there you go then. She should be singing about the price of cheese or something."

That's my mother for you ;)

-- so I found My Chemical Romance's new video, "I Don't Love You." It's one off the album Ray and I like to sing to one another - for some reason we always pick songs about breaking up? - and I wasn't disappointed by the video at all. In fact, I enjoyed the video even more than the song, which I'm starting to get sick off to be honest. My own fault. I was literally scanning the music channels for this video alone. My reason? Gerrard.

Now, I've never fancied him before. I really didn't get the whole MCR thing. They were like a poppy version of The Used. I remember I gave them a bash once cos I found out Bert was dating (which I think translated into frequent shagging) Gerrard but they still didn't grab me. And I couldn't see what Bert found so attractive in Gerrard. Then "Black Parade" came out and I fell in love with the song. Ray has always been a fan and so bought the album, which was quite good on first listen and turned into one of those CD's that was never out of my stereo after the third listen. Then this "I Don't Love You" video materialised. I've gone very girlie over Gerrard. It's the lips when he's singing at the end, with the close-up of his face. I was hypnotised.

Screencaps to prove my point...






Snagged from My Chemical Obsession Brasil

I don't know what's happened to me. I've been swayed by a pretty face. I think it's the black hair, the tortured eyes and chipped nail varnish. No, I know what turned my head: the mouth. Something about the way he moves his lips. Yum.

So I've got a schoolgirl crush on Gerrard now. Always fun to have a new crush, though, isn't it? Plus it means the albums back on repeat again. Hehehe.

Labels: bert, dog-sitting, gerrard, lesbian, mammy, my chemical romance, reading, the used

by Ys | COMMENTS? 0 | permalink |  

Books, CD's, X-Box Misery

Really: nothing has happened! Nothing blog-worthy, anyway.

I did have a strange dream last night that a well-known junkie's step-daughter told me her step-dad had been busted. Then there was a mass brawl in the middle of town between junkies and non-junkies. There was a lot of blood and I was left to clean it all up. I've been having some very vivid dreams lately. My brain's working overtime! I still haven't recovered from a nightmare I had two nights ago about having nails in the backs of my thighs.

About the only news-worthy thing I have done is buy a new book. I'm going dog-sitting again later this week and I always like to take a book with me to read. The only problem is I always read horror stories, which are no good to me when I'm alone in a strangers house. So I picked out one of my favourites - Nick Sagan's Idlewild - to re-read. Then I remembered that there was a sequel to the book that I had never been able to afford to buy. So buy it I did. It's called Edenborn. Should be very, very good; the first one was great!

I bought a few new CD's over the last couple of weeks. I bought Muse's Absolution on a whim. I've been in love with the songs on that album for years so because I had some spare cash I bought it. And it hasn't disappointed. Then there was FOB's Infinity On High. I'm still undecided on it. Some songs I loved on first listen, others I'm really not that keen on. I'll wait a while before I've decided on that one.

Last night I had my first falling out with Halo 2. I've progressed onto the Hard level now. Halo 1 was great fun but Halo 2 is just a little on the annoying side. I don't like it when they make games so that your enemies have stupid amounts of more health and weapons than you. Obviously I don't want it easy - I spent four hours trying to complete one bit of Halo 1 and I loved doing it! - but Halo 2 is really just taking the piss a bit. I'll see how I get on with it today. It's certainly not good for the blood pressure that's for sure.

I didn't only play Halo yesterday - I wrote as well. See, getting back to normal routine again.

It's Sweepie's first birthday tomorrow. One year ago my life was turned upside down by eight squealing, needy puppies. Aww, I miss them...

Labels: birthday, dreams, drugs, Fall Out Boy, halo, muse, music, nick sagan, reading, sweepie, writing

by Ys | COMMENTS? 0 | permalink |  








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